Clean Water

Rachel's Story

On July 23, 2011, nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith was killed in a tragic car accident on highway I-90 near Seattle, Washington. After her death, thousands of people all around the world started donating to her mycharity: water fundraising page, and over the course of a month, raised over $1.2 million in Rachel’s honor. That money is now helping 37,770 people get access to clean water. It's been exactly a year since the accident. In honor of the anniversary, Rachel’s mom, Samantha, and her grandparents, Richard and Roseanne, visit Ethiopia with charity: water and meet some of the people Rachel helped. We’ve documented the entire day on video so we can share it with all of you. www.charitywater.org Video by Jamie Pent - @jazzyjamieleigh Music by Sleeping at Last - @sleepingatlast

Meet : the jerry can

The yellow jug in the charity:water logo is called a 'jerry can' , it is a symbol of the water crisis around the world. Although used as a symbol for us, it has a very practical use to others as it is a vessel that transports water for miles.

The jerry can is a 5 gallon container used for fuel but then recycled to be used for water. When the can is full, it typically weighs about 40 pounds. The woman or children of the house normally are the ones to fetch water each day. For a community lacking in a sufficient clean water source, this could mean walking up to 3 miles each way carrying a full jerry can. As a result of the long distance, a family is left to use about one container for all their needs.

This includes washing dishes, taking a bath, brushing your teeth, nourishment for your body, cooking...the list goes on. To put this in perspective, an average American uses 150 gallons of water a day, which would be 30 jerry cans of water - 1,200 pounds for one person.

Clean and accessible water allows children to go to school, improves health and sanitation, and improves a household income. We are working to make this a reality for 600 people. 600 people could have their life tremendously improved just from water.

water is everything

Can you imagine waking up and not having access to water? No water to make your coffee with (whoah), wash your face, take a shower, wash your clothes... Imagine having to sacrifice half of your day to fetch water. Once you have this water you have to carry it miles back to your home. Once you are home you are afraid of getting sick from this water, or someone in your family catching disease. Something that we don't have to think twice about, some people are dying from. Wow.

Letting this truth sink in is heavy and can be hard to process. Thankfully our friends at charity:water are motivated to make a change. Not only that, but our inviting communities to rally together and support their cause of bringing clean water to developing nations. It is an amazing cause to be a part of.

Check out this 360 video of a friend in Ethiopia who receives water for the first time! The well in this video is the same one we are raising money for! Virtual Reality Video

charity: water

We are excited to announce the very FIRST organization that 'Brilliant!' has the honor to partner with! In the next few months, we will be working with charity:water to bring clean water to people in Ethopia! Our goal is to help 600 people get clean water for the first time in their communities.

Did you know that water borne diseases kill more people than any other form of violence? Clean water is possible if we work together to help those who have limited resources. Our goal over the next few months is to bring awareness to the water crisis and work together to bring clean water to communities in Ethiopia! #bebrilliant