“If it is becoming night, and you are near a village, stop and ask for the head chairman. It is part of our constitution that he should give you a place to stay, probably in his home”
It has been custom in most places we’ve been, but apparently in Tanzania, it is also law to assist travelers along the way. It’s interesting to see the way that trickles down into everyone else as well. Especially in Tanzania, everyone likes to invite us to their home.
And sometimes they give us things. We were walking over a bridge and children were coming the other direction. They reached over and handed us alphabet cookies. I got a Z and a D. Aaron got 2 H’s.
Our friend Augustine is the one who told us about constitutional hospitality. He had us stay in his home, which is only two rooms. He gave us the bed, and he and his brother slept on the floor. Very humbling.
He had just moved to the area in the past year to become a farmer, after having graduated college and divorcing his wife.
As he hands 3 local kids buckets and 200 shilling pieces (worth about 8cents each) he talks about how he is worried about the future of his country and for the kids, most of whom in his village cannot afford to go to school.
The children return from the river with muddy buckets of water and the conversation changes to local water supply which is currently just the stream down the hill. People either drink the water as is, boil it, or buy bottled water. It is not easy.
Before we left the next day, we enjoyed tea with him and listened to a local radio program, mentioning among other things that a lady from New Zealand died from drinking too much Coke. Weird how worlds collide.
- February 19
- , 2013
We are super honored to announce that two incredible people have given up their birthdays this month for clean water! Jaime Markham of East Hartford, CT and Rebecca Conner of Carbondale, IL have given up their birthdays this month so that others might have CLEAN WATER! So far they have both raised more than $350 a piece.
Only $20 gives someone clean water for 20 years, so through their birthdays, 35 more people will have access to clean, safe, drinking water.
Way to go guys! Thanks for giving up your birthday so that others might live.
If you’d like to contribute to the birthday campaigns and be a part, please see Jaime’s page here, and Rebecca’s page here.
If you’d like to give up your birthday, or any holiday for clean water, ask us how and we will get you started!
- April 25
- , 2012
There are a few openings on our AFRICA team, and we wanted to open it to you! What are you doing for the next two years? Why not walk across a continent?!?
Be part of our team; the first US Citizens to complete a trek of this length in Africa.
Know someone who would be perfect for this? Please pass it on.
Space is limited - email us at info@walking4water.org for more info.
On Tuesday of this week, 3/22, it is WORLD WATER DAY!
Walk4Water is honoring the cause by posting new ways every day during this week for all of YOU to get involved.
So here’s day 1. AWARENESS.
If you are not aware of a problem, you won’t wonder about a solution.
For instance, if I don’t know my tires are low, I won’t pull over and find a place to fill them. If I am not aware that
Awareness is the first step to problem solving.
Some have told me that this chart has really increased their awareness of comprehending the problem of unsafe water.
The reality is, without water, the rest of this; sanitation, health, education, economy is not. possible.
Be aware of that.
Be aware also:
Lack of unsafe water causes 80% of all disease, and causes more deaths than all forms of violence, including war.
In just one day, more than 200 million hours of women’s time is consumed for the most basic of human needs - collecting water.
For every $1 is invested in clean water and sanitation, $12 is returned in productivity.
Check out this video from our benefactor, charity: water:
Learn more at our website: www.walking4water.org
I hope you are now one step closer to being aware of this critical issue. Keep checking back for more updates on how YOU can be a part of this cause.
Danielle is a college student in Chicago, IL.
Last weekend she had a cookie exchange party. Her famous caramel popcorn and assortment of other cookies provided by Danielle and the guests were a hit! This is a yearly occasion that many within their group of friends look forward to.
BUT, the good deed is not the party. It’s the day after.
Danielle woke up early on a Saturday, rode the train downtown, fought through the nasty cold and rain that day, and went around with decorative bags filled with her famous caramel popcorn and leftover cookies, passing them out to the homeless people she spotted on the street. Danielle exhibited the truly good spirit of Christmas, and of good deeds for others. As she delivered her bags with a smile, and oftentimes also a monetary donation, we know many were blessed that day through her.
It’s not just giving; its giving with style :-)
Go Danielle!
Want to help but don’t know how? Here’s a simple way if you use Google Chrome:
http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/p/cause/#tnc Follow the link and download the extension called “Chrome for a Cause” that gives money to the causes you love by simply opening new tabs on their browser! You can even just sit there for 10 minutes clicking the “new tab” button. Do you use google chrome? Do you have 10 minutes? If you open 200 tabs you can give someone clean water through the cause we are trying to benefit, charity: water. This is a great way to give back, and you don’t even have to leave your chair!
Keep sending in your good deed do-er stories, and you/the good deed do-er could win our most inspirational story award for this holiday season!
Heartbreaking letters to Santa this year, from right within our own country.
Kids who need basic things, like coats, boots, and electricity.
It is sad that many will still be suffering this holiday season; in our country and around the world.
The holidays should be a time to rejoice and be glad; I think of warmth, gladness and the blessings of giving to others.
Some friends that I know are giving up their holiday gifts, and instead asking people to donate toward charity: water instead. They are giving up the things that they “need” or “don’t need” this season to instead bless others who lack without the basic necessity of clean water.
It feels good to get, but even better to give.
Team member Aaron recently posted on his tumblr, ”Christmas is supposed to be Christ centered. Yes i know this already BUT its so easy how we can get carried off into thinking about ourselves, and how we use the giving of gifts as a reason to celebrate, when really it might be used as an excuse to indulge in commercialism. I saw a video saying Americans spend 45 BILLION dollars in Christmas expenses. Imagine what kind of world problems we could solve by, just for one Christmas, changed our focus”
Aaron asked his readers how much they were planning to spend on Christmas..
As this holiday season approaches, it would be a good to stop and remember the blessings we already have, and think of creative ways to give back to those who need it the most. We can’t get that 45 million dollars back today, but we can decide what WE do as individuals.
Till Christmas, we will post blogs centered around creative things people are doing to give back this year. So watch for some inspirational stories!
If you see any good stories, let us know about them, and maybe we’ll highlight them here!
- December 15
- , 2010
