The African Well Fund Wants U 2 Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday*

[hippy]

<img src=http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/16762awf-sml.JPG><br />
<b>By Kimberly Egolf, Editor<br />
2008.04</b><br />
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Could you balance a 40-pound tub of water on your head and walk 4 miles? Over half of Africa?s population has to make this journey each day, but the African Well Fund wants to change this. One well at a time.<br />
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On March 17th the non-profit organization launched its annual drive to Build a Well for Bono?s Birthday. This drive aims to collect donations, no matter how large or small, from anyone who is ?inspired by Bono?s tireless activism on behalf of Africa.? <br />
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In its six years of operation, the drive has raised over $110,000 ? all of which has gone directly to well projects throughout the African continent. Working closely with Africare, a leading private charitable organization delivering aid to Africans, the African Well Fund is currently sponsoring projects in Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Nigeria. These projects are bringing fresh well water to over 35,000 people.<br />
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Access to fresh drinking water can change a whole village. Current Well Fund projects in Uganda?s Ntungamo District are not only bringing drinking water to over 6,000 people, they are also enabling sustainable long-term farming projects. This means better access to nutritional foods. Better food means better health. Better health means more productivity. The upward cycle is endless.<br />
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And it all begins with a low cost well that you can help to build.<br />
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This year?s drive ? titled ?Walk to the water?walk with me? ? will run through May 10th, the day of Bono?s birthday. To donate, please visit <a href="http://www.africanwellfund.org." target="_blank">http://www.africanwellfund.org.</a> After donating, you can also sign a birthday card which will be sent directly to Bono! Last year the big man himself sent a thank you card recognizing the African Well Fund?s outstanding grassroots efforts. ?Well, well and well done,? he wrote. Well done, indeed.<br />
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<i>You can help the African Well Fund walk to the water by donating here: <a href="http://http//www.africanwellfund.org" target="_blank">http//www.africanwellfund.org</a>.</i>

 

[Jamila]

Thank you, Kimberly, for this article supporting an effort for Africa which was truly started "In the Name of Love".

I will doing all that I can to support and promote this effort to bring clean water sources to Africa.



As one of those who were there at the beginning of the AWF in October 2002, I have watched with pride as this effort started by U2 fans and followers progressed into something truly beautiful and something truly effective for Africa's Future.


Although my efforts stay mainly with ONE and now with the MPWN website, my excitement for the annual Bono's Birthday Well project grows each year.




Let all of us make the commitment to do all that we can to make this fundraising drive in honor of the man who has done so much for Africa the biggest success yet!

 

[utwogirl]

Thanks Kimberly!

Kimberly,
I too want to thank you for the article on the African Well Fund. I've attached a note to all my emails out to friends and family, to donate in Honor of Bono's Birthday! They all know my dedication to u2 and Bono's causes, so I hope they at least do it for me!

Since Bono's Birthday is in May, I also make my donation in lieu of a Mothers Day Gift. I ask my husband to give the gift of water, not only to honor Bono, but to help a Mother in Africa who doesn't have the option of a clean drink of water for herself or her children.

I only hope that Bono recieves more signatures than ever on his Birthday card this year!

Thanks Again,
Doris F.
Wilmington, Delaware

 

[oktobergirl]

What a cool idea, Doris. About Mother's Day. I never thought of that!

We will be announcing the location of the water project for this year's fundraiser soon. Sorry for the delay!