I’m sure you’ve heard the stats: About 70% of the planet is made up of water, of which 97.5% is saltwater, leaving only 2.5% of freshwater left to nourish all of us living here on earth. That would be about 6 billion of us around the world.
Here’s where it gets sticky. Of that remaining freshwater, only 30% is located in underground lakes and aquifers. The rest is in the form of glaciers and snow. We mainly get our water from digging wells. Those living in developing countries can also get clean water from underground but they have no way to get to it. This leaves no other option but to walk for miles for still unsafe water that can make one sick. Final result – only one in six people in the world have access to clean drinking water.
That’s where charity: water comes in. After many successful years in the business world, Scott Harrison reached a point where he knew he needed to do more with his life. After signing up as a volunteer photojournalist with Mercy Ships, he spent time in Liberia and witnessed firsthand the poverty and difficulties of daily life. With that experience, he came to a realization of just how good he had it. From there charity:water was born.
This month, charity: water turns 3 years old. In just three years, they have raised more than $10 million through over 60,000 donors and helped more than 700,000 people in 16 countries get access to clean water. September also marks another birthday for Scott. With that he is “giving up”, as he has since day one three years ago, any gifts and asking for donations in lieu of birthday presents – all of which will go towards providing clean, safe drinking water for those in need.
To fully appreciate this initiative – grab a tissue and watch this video.
I was extremely moved and feel there are additional messages to share to inspire others to take action. One being that we do not pick our day of birth, station or circumstances in life. It picks us either through randomness or divine purpose. With that we need to take a moment to reflect and be grateful for where we are as compared to others such as our neighbors across the globe that do not have access to clean drinking water.
This story also gives us another opportunity to think about our own personal water usage. While we take only a few steps to get a glass of water or even to fill up our dog’s bowl with clean water, let’s think about those mothers and children who are walking for hours a day for at best cloudy water. And for those of us that may still be wasteful with it, perhaps this can be a call to action to conserve if for nothing else, out of respect for those who are not as fortunate.
So whether your birthday is in the month of September or not, consider making a donation today and/or encouraging your friends and family to honor your day of birth by making a donation too. My birthday is coming up in October and I’ll be doing the same.
In closing and to sum up in the words of Scott:
“For me, charity is practical. It’s sometimes easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary. It’s the ability to use one’s position of influence, relative wealth and power to affect lives for the better. charity is singular and achievable.”
A truly inspiring story and our Green Samaritan of the Month for September - Scott Harrison, Founder and President of charity: water.
Do you have someone in mind? Contact us to nominate a Green Samaritan in your life.
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