National Service Project: Blood:Water Mission

Many fraternities have a national philanthropy. Something that all brothers come together to work towards, and in effort to improve the world in some small (or large) way. We, as Sigma Theta Epsilon, do not have a national philanthropy. We all do our part, I am certain for various needs, but I like to imagine what we can do as a united body, working together on the same cause, with the same goals.

This year at Fall Gathering, I announced a National Service Project. Until we can agree on a National Philanthropy to take on permanently, I would love to see us take on a charity each year as a National Service Project. This year we, as a National Christian Fraternity, will be working together to raise a goal of $5,000 to build a well in an African Village through our support of Blood:Water Mission.

Blood:Water Mission is a non-profit organization founded by the members of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.

Blood:Water Mission exists to promote clean blood and clean water efforts in Africa, tangibly reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic while addressing the underlying issues of poverty, injustice and oppression. Blood:Water Mission is building clean water wells, supporting medical facilities, and focusing on community and worldview transformation, both here in America and in Africa.

Here are some heart wrenching facts to help motivate all of us to do our part to support this project:

• Every day in Africa, women and children walk as many as six miles to get clean drinking water.
• About 45% of all Africans lack clean water (or about 311 million people).
• One American Dollar buys clean drinking water for one African for one year. That’s $1 for 1 African for 1 year.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the World’s population. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 60% of all people living with HIV/AIDS.

Please, join me in the fight. Visit the website. Watch the following video. Work with your chapter and your brothers and everyone else you know so that we, as Sigma Theta Epsilon, can do our part to extend a service project to meet unfilled human needs, as we live Christian lives of faith and service.

Remember, we’ve set a goal of $5,000 nationally to be raised by December 31st, 2008. Additionally, I’ve put forth a contest to the chapters: the chapter that does the best job as decided by the National Board of participating in this National Service Project and advancing the causes of the charity (including but not limited to dollars raised) will receive a brand new, customized altar kit. And, to help motivate and set an example, the National Board will be participating as another chapter.

A little later on, I’ll provide another entry to give ideas and suggestions for raising the money, and I’d love for it to turn into a giant idea-sharing session. But, for now, let’s just consider what we’re being called to, and how we will respond.