An 8-year-old raised $10,000 to help bring clean water to a community overseas, personally delivering an envelope filled with checks to the organization Charity: Water. Because her contribution funded an entire water project, the young girl could choose which country she wanted it to go to.
Here's what to know
An Instagram post from Good News Movement (@goodnews_movement) described the girl's contribution to Charity: Water as "enough to bring clean water to an entire community."
Scott Harrison, the founder and CEO of Charity: Water, recalled receiving the donation at the organization's Experience Lab.
"She handed me an envelope with a series of checks and she was able to drill a well and choose the country for her water project to be built in," Harrison said in the post.
More background
According to Harrison, the Charity: Water Experience Lab was built to provide people, especially children, with a better idea of what having enough water means in other countries. In one exhibit, visitors can experience the daily water-collection route of a girl in Uganda, carrying a jerry can along a version of the girl's path and getting a hands-on sense of the time and effort involved.
Another key aspect of the Experience Lab has been a Vestaboard display that tracks the number of people gaining access to clean water through Charity: Water's work. Visitors can watch as the tally changes as they move through the space.
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According to Harrison, not every young person needs to raise $10,000 to be acknowledged. The organization also recognizes smaller contributions to teach children that every little bit of help can make a difference.
Corporations also pitching in
Young people have not been the only ones contributing funds to Charity: Water. Vestaboard has also supported groups such as Charity: Water through its Inspire Community program, according to the Good News Movement. At the Experience Lab, the customizable Vestaboard display has helped the nonprofit show visitors the real and ever-growing impact of donations.
Harrison said he approached Vestaboard with the idea of counting both people receiving clean water and the impact of children's giving. As Harrison explained in the post's caption, "That generosity is recognized on the Vestaboard for everyone else to see."
People in the comments quickly praised the organization's efforts.
"Charity: water is my favorite charity," wrote one. "Every human being, no matter where you are on this earth deserves clean fresh water. That's the absolute basic."
Where can I learn more?
Helping a community get clean water means investing in infrastructure and keeping the water safe from contamination.
• MrBeast spent $10 million building a village in Ghana.
• A homeowner quoted $4,000 for well repairs learned to start with a lab test.
• In Wisconsin, Chippewa Falls drilled deeper wells and spent $200,000 annually to combat nitrate pollution.
• A private well owner ordered $400 in filters after testing revealed 8 ppb of arsenic.
• Ben Bolt, Texas, received $31 million for sewer hookups, with schools first in line.
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