Dear family and friends,

I'm using my birthday this year to support charity: water's September campaign to bring clean and safe drinking water to the people of Ethiopia.

I recently learned that more than 1.1 billion people in the world today don't have the most basic thing: clean water to drink. Over 4,500 kids die each and every day from water-related disease. To do my part, I've been supporting an organization called charity: water that has been making a real difference.

This year, I've decided to give up birthday gifts and ask for donations instead. 100% of the money raised will go directly to building freshwater wells, which will be proved with GPS coordinates and photos on Google Earth.

Although you are free to give however much you wish, how about I give you a figure just in case anyone out there is cracking their heads from thinking of the amount. I'm asking for 20 dollars. 20 dollars can help one person get clean water. Please make a donation on my page:
http://www.charitywater.org/birthdays/fundraiser/sept/view/1912

I'm serious about this and am not secretly wishing that some people give me gifts instead. Even birthday dinners. I urge all of you to be part of this instead. I know its a little troublesome to go through the procedures but do remember that the little effort you put in will bring smiles to many faces. For my dear friends who do not own credit cards, how about splitting the donation among a few of you and getting an adult to help with the transaction. :)

And to those who do not usually give me gifts, I'm just asking that you consider being part of this great movement. :)

Thank you!

Love,
Janine Ng

It was quite hard for me to put my feet down and decide that I shall be part of this movement. Not for my own glory or earning that 'whoah-she's-so-noble' position in the minds of people or just to be part of this cool movement, but wholeheartedly. I mentioned to a few people already that I was hoping to get some stuff for my new iPod on my birthday. And who doesn't like to receive gifts? I was actually thinking 'Maybe next year. I need my stuff this year'. How selfish of me right? Do I really need all that stuff? Not really. These people need clean water. They are dying because of the lack of clean water. Will I die without my 'needs'? Nope.

And if you have reservations of donating to them, not knowing where the money really goes to, watch the videos on the website. They'll send you links to videos and keep you updated on the progress of the drilling of the wells.

I'm gonna stress this. I knowwwwwww it's mahfan to donate online when you don't have a credit card (like Joram. lol tineee). But let this be the first time you make such an effort. Get 4 or 5 of yous together, split 20 bucks amongst you (that's just $4/5!) and hand it to an adult to help you donate using their credit card.

And being the one who's getting everyone into this, I've taken the first step and donated! :) Will you?
|