Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

Ghandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Well I have decided to be the change I want to see in the world. Over the years, I have traveled to visit my family in Nigeria many times and I am going again this fall. Whenever I go back I’m always humbled by the compassion, generosity and resilience of the people.  Living in the United States with so many common conveniences it’s easy to take for granted basic needs like clean water and reliable electricity.  Currently only 60% of people in Nigeria have access to safe water, and only 38% have sanitation.  Every year there are 175,000 deaths due to diarrhea, malaria and typhoid, which together account for 70% of child illnesses and deaths.  The cost in lost productivity, through both poor health and the time spent collecting water, which is commonly five hours a day in the dry season, is high.

 My experiences in the father land and these grim statistics have ultimately led me to ask myself what can I do to better the lives of the impoverished people of Nigeria.  I realized that by making minor changes in my spending habits I could make a substantial difference.  If one person is able to make a change in the world, imagine what a group of people can do.  For water projects in Nigeria the minimum amount you have to raise is $5,000, but with your help my goal is to raise $10,000 by November 8th for Water Aid.   

 No donation is too small.  Simply sacrificing a small luxury like Starbucks for a week or a few Saturday night dinners for a month and instead donating the monetary equivalent to Water Aid would have an incredible impact.  For example:

    * $12 can buy enough cement to create two dome shaped latrine slabs.

    * $80 will pay to train 11 committee members in rural communities on the operation   and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities.

    * $200 can provide a hand dug well in areas where you don’t have to dig far to reach the water table.  This will serve at least 150 people.

    * $10,000 would be more than enough to provide one borehole fitted with a hand pump to provide safe drinking water and ventilated pit latrines for more than 2,500 eager and deserving school children in Nigeria.

 Sure you can give a little change… or you can make a change!

 So what will you give up to make change?  Let us know by posting below.

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