we'd go down to the river, though I know the river is dry.

For those who do not know our world is struggling and in the middle of on-going water crisis. In a country such as South Africa the lack of clean water leads to death of one child every 15 seconds. Organizations, charities and the UN have opened many doors, and their hearts, to find ways they can to put this epidemic in the history books and no longer something we live with each and everyday. It's now your turn to take 5 minutes out of your day and help to create a change. Play Pumps International is an organization that has been installing roundabout play pumps in schools all throughout South Africa. What these do is, while kids are spinning on them and playing as any child would, pump clean water from underground into a 2,500-liter tank above ground. From there, a simple tap allows easy-access for men, women and children to draw and collect safe drinking water. (Below is a diagram of how these play pumps work)


A few years back Jay-Z did a documentary on MTV titled, "The Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life" in partnership with the UN and their Water for Life Decade, which we are currently in as it started in 2005 and will last until the year 2015. In November of 2006 the show aired and opened my eyes. I then began following what is being done, what has been done, and even gave a 40 minute presentation at my high school on the issue before I graduated, showing them a clip from this show and explaining detail what exactly this crisis is. (I in no means am trying to sound like a preacher and forcing this upon you! It's up to you to do what you want kids!) But do just think about this... it's water, something we have easy access to every second of our lives, while in certain countries people struggle to even have enough to drink, bathe and cook. Below I've posted a clip from the MTV & Jay-Z documentary that begins at a meeting held at the UN in Aug. of 2006 and when the crew first arrived in South Africa in Oct. of 2006, seeing what people had to go through to get water on a daily basis, as well the poor sanitation in the towns. (It isn't one of those sappy overdone film clips, but just more educational and eye opening.)

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