Every day, 4,000 children in developing countries die from illness and disease related to unsafe drinking water. Clean water for all is an extremely important mission in our world, and a variety of organizations are actively working toward that goal.
One event that may help to grab the attention of people in developed countries is Summit on the Summit, which culminates in a team of water educators and cultural influencers climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, in January of 2010 to raise awareness of the global clean water crisis.
The event is the project of Grammy-nominated artist Kenna, whose father nearly lost his life after contracting a water-borne disease from drinking contaminated water in Ethiopia. Kenna has recruited celebrities such as hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, actresses Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas, as well as water educators such as Dr. Greg Allgood, founder of Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW).
The team will also visit a nearby village in Tanzania to see the effects of the global water crisis on communities, as well as to learn about relief efforts.
“Clean, healthy drinking water is a basic need for people everywhere but unfortunately many go without. By joining forces with others who share a common goal, we can bring major attention to the global water situation and provide even more people with access to clean drinking water – whether it’s abroad or right in their own kitchens.” – Dr. Allgood
In addition to raising awareness, Summit on the Summit is raising funds for life-saving water programs. Corporate partners of the event include PÃœR and Hewlett Packard.
To find out more, see Summit on the Summit, become a fan on Facebook, or follow @DrGregAllgood on Twitter
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About Derek Markham
[...] Biel, the pop singer-song writer Kenna, the hip-hoppers Lupe Fiasco and Santigold and half dozen friends are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa as the new year begins as a way of drawing attention to the problem [...]