I've just turned 34 few weeks ago (yes, quite old, I know, and I should behave more like my age). All of my birthdays have always been about parties and stuff. Stuff I'm too lazy to buy for myself, sometimes stuff I don't want, and definitely stuff I don't need. And to be honest, I hardly even remember what I received last year.

So this year, instead of giving me another "stuff", I am asking for a little donation; $34 for my 34th birthday, but feel free to contribute whatever amount you wish. I am aiming to raise enough money (only about $5000) to build a well project for a community in one of the developing countries in Africa, south-east Asia or Latin America, so they can have clean water for their basic daily needs.

It's unthinkable how I have the luxury to choose between a glass of juice/cocktail/tea/coffee/milk, or the plain tasteless "water", while someone on the other side of this globe drinks water taken from a pud hole without any water treatment to remove disease causing bacteria. Yes, there are people in this world that do not have access to such fundamental need as fresh drinking water! How many of them? Close to one billion people in this world are living without clean water - that's about 1 in every 8 people on this planet! Yes, this stats is insane, but it is unfortunately true and it shouldn't be.

Please watch the short video clip to understand why water changes everything. 100% of your donation will go directly to building a well in a community. Your donation is tax deductible within the jurisdiction of the U.S. tax office. You will have a warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing that you have helped bring clean drinking water to a community.

So please give generously to "Merry Well 34" so that a community of 250 people can have access to clean water! What's more is that, in 18 months time, you'll be able to track the progress of the project via GPS mapping on Google Maps!

Many thanks!

Mary

ps: Feel free to explore this website to understand the great work being done by charity:water, and spread the word to those you know!