I'm about to turn 15. Wow. With a birthday the day before Christmas, it's easy to get caught up in the comfort of the holidays and the excitement of giving and receiving gifts. With new, just released books lining the shelves of bookstores and cute outfits winking at me from store windows, it's easy to just sit back and forget about all the people in the world who are less fortunate than I, figuring, "I work hard. There are people who would buy all of those things without a thought. I deserve that stuff."

And maybe I do. But what I've found is that I don't REALLY want it that much. When I compare it with the way my heart aches when I watch this video, my want is nothing. So this year, instead of asking for things, which will just crowd my room and give me more to be stressed about as I try to clean up, I'm asking for water for a family somewhere in Africa.

I've set my goal as $60, because at $20 per person, that is enough to provide a family of 3 - the same size as mine - with clean water. I do not ask you to give any more or any less than what you would usually spend on a birthday present for me.

There has been many a time when I feel disgusted with the ease of life here, because I begin to feel that everything I live on is built upon some Jenga tower facade that could collapse at the slightest nudge. The water from my tap comes to me through other people's labor, and the food I eat, though it may be local, has still passed through many other's hands before mine. And this allows me to learn and grow every second of the day, because I do not have to worry about having clean water, food, or clothes. This opportunity has been lost for many women in sub-Saharan Africa, who spend more time every day collecting water than they do doing any other activity. We're not talking just a few families here, either: 1 billion people live this way every year.

If it cost $20 to provide you with clean water, would you give up that nice shirt you've been wanting? I bet you would. So donate to my campaign for charity:water, and change a life.