Let’s talk about dirty water. Many of us have no idea what it's like to live without clean water--even the water in our toilets is clean!

Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. Even if it didn’t make people sick, there would still be a problem. People in rural areas are losing so much valuable time because they spend it walking for water. These walks can be very long and usually women and children carry this burden. In Africa alone, women spend 40 billion hours a year walking for water.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

Something that makes me really excited about clean water is that it often gives women in developing countries the opportunity to use this newly-gained time to start businesses. I’m currently a young woman studying business in New York City. I don’t deserve this opportunity any more than these women do, but giving them clean water gives them more time back in their day to reach their God-given potential.

This semester, I am an intern at charity: water. NO, they did not tell me to do this! I have grown to deeply respect and love the very heartbeat of this organization and its desire to give every person on earth access to clean water.

This year, I want to get 50 people to donate $20 to my campaign for my 20th birthday so that $1,000 can be used to give clean water to those who need it.

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped together.

If you have any questions about my campaign or charity: water, please send them my way! I encourage others to think critically about how and where they give. Thank you all SO MUCH!