Everyday
in Africa, many people, particularly women, have to
walk for miles to get water. The chore of fetching water
is no small task, it involves walking sometimes up to
10 miles to the nearest water source, and carrying home
the heavy containers filled with the day’s supply
of water. This often takes up a big part of a woman’s
day, and even then the water source is not always a
safe one. It might be scooped from a dirty pool; unclean
and containing parasites or dangerous bacteria.
How
can you help?
Through
the 10 Mile program, the African Well Fund asks you
to “Walk 10 Miles in Her Shoes”.
We ask that individuals or groups who wish to participate
raise a mile’s (or 10) worth of pennies. 84,480
Pennies ($844.80) lined up makes a mile. The money
can be raised through the methods listed below or
invent your own fundraiser. Visit our volunteer stories
page to read how other individuals and groups have
raised money for AWF. Each mile of pennies raised,
just $840, will make a tremendous difference in the
lives of the many Africans who have to walk miles
each day just to get water.
Individuals
Individuals
who volunteer to participate can place containers,
like a cup or an empty coffee can, by the water sources
in your home. (like toilets, sinks, showers, dishwasher,
washing machine) Every time you use water for your
daily activities, drop a couple of pennies into the
container.
We
can provide labels to attach to containers that you
can pass out to family and friends.
Try
getting your office involved! Ask your employer if
you may place donation containers and a poster next
to the water cooler or coffee maker and ask co-workers
to drop in a few pennies every time they get a class
of water or cup of coffee. We have a great promotional
poster available for download.
Groups
Groups
can also use the container method or hold a penny
fundraiser!
Some
suggested penny fundraisers:
Basketball
Shoot-off
Get
sponsors to donate a pledged amount for every
basket you make, ex. a penny per basket. With
several sponsors the amount quickly adds up.
Great for schools or youth groups.
Penny
Wars
Great
way to get schools involved. More information
here.
Matching
Donations
Ask
local churches or businesses to match the donations
you collect.
Once
you have collected and counted the money you have
raised, take it to a local bank. (You may want
to check with the bank ahead of time, as most
banks do not accept loose change; they will only
accept it in rolls of coins. Most banks will give
you tubes to roll the coins for free.) Have your
bank make up a cheque for the amount you have
raised, made out to Africare and mark “U205”
clearly in the memo section of the cheque. Mail
the cheque to:
Africare
Attention: African Well Fund
440 R Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20001-1935 USA
Also
please send us an email letting us know how much
you raised. If you would like to have your fundraiser
listed on the volunteers page of the African Well
Fund website, please send us a summary of how
your event went and if possible, take pictures
that we can also put on the website!
If
you are interested in holding a penny fundraiser
for the African Well Fund, or if you have any
questions about the fundraiser, please email amartens@africanwellfund.org
