Every day, 5,000 kids under the age of 5 die from water-related illnesses. I want to change that.

On May 30th I'll be turning 16 and I've decided to celebrate my birthday a bit differently this year. These past few years have opened my eyes to the world around me as well as to the lives of others. I am fortunate enough to be able to go to school, have a roof over my head, but most importantly to have access to clean, safe drinking water. Nearly 1 billion people around the world do not have this opportunity. It is for this reason why I've decided that this year for my birthday, I want to help them. I don't want to get gifts, I want to give the gift of clean water.
Everyday, women and children go on treks for several hours in search for clean water. Not only is the journey itself dangerous, but the water they haul back is dangerous as well. The bacteria in the water can lead to diarrhea, dehydration and possibly even death. Due to this, 5,000 children die every day from water related illnesses before even reaching their 5th birthday. The saddest part is these people know the water is not sanitary, but there is nothing they can do.
As much as I enjoy celebrating my birthday traditionally, I can't think of a better way to spend my 16th birthday than to help the people that need it more than I do. These people need clean water, so help me give it to them.