Greetings and Happy New Year.
The African Well Fund is pleased to announce that during 2008 we raised a grand total of $202,267 (USD), exceeding our 2008 goal of $200,000. That brings our total raised since inception to $682,707. Thanks to each one of you who helped to us accomplish this unprecedented achievement.
The African Well Fund would like to take a moment to look back at the highlights of 2008, as well as take a look forward to what is in the works for 2009.
- In February, AWF was offered the opportunity to earn $200 on media sharing site Viewbug.com. After meeting the goals for members and photos set by Viewbug, AWF was awarded the full $200.
- Schools in Arizona came together in late February for various fun and leadership activities, including fundraising. Collectively the schools raised over $25,000 for AWF.
- In March, a Virginia teenager raised funds for AWF, inspiring her church and community to donate to her fundraiser.
- Throughout March and April, students at North Middle School in Belleville, Mich., asked parents and community members to participate in fundraising, including hosting a spaghetti dinner to raise money for clean water in Africa. By May, the students had raised $7,700 through their efforts.
- On April 5, the South Dakota State University Pre-Professionals Club hosted a 5K walk-a-thon benefiting AWF. The group raised over $5,000.
- An 11-year-old boy in New Jersey took a 10-mile hike on Mother’s Day to raise $2,500 for AWF.
- On May 22, two students from Riverdale Country School in Riverdale, N.Y., carried 80 gallons of water for a mile to raise over $3,000 for AWF.
- Our annual Bono’s Birthday Well fundraising campaign, held from March 17 to May 10, raised over $26,000.
- A 13-year-old girl in Vancouver chose AWF for her bat mitzvah project, raising $1,500 by selling blue buttons featuring the words for water in six different languages.
- In July, a 10-year-old girl in Edmonton, Alberta, completed a series of fundraisers that raised more than $2,400 for AWF.
- Through the summer, a Montana kindergartener raised over $1,000 for AWF selling cookies and collection coins at an area farmer’s market.
- In October, a second grader at Dunbar Elementary School in Glen Ellen, Calif., had a “Big Idea” inspired by his mom to collect a mile’s worth of pennies for AWF. With help from his teacher, parents, classmates and community, he raised $2,250.
- AWF participated in the Be the Cause: Walk for Hope in Long Beach, Calif., in October, raising over $185 from the walk.
- The sixth annual Toronto U2 fan convention InTO the Heart raised $80 for AWF in November.
- From Nov. 10-17, AWF held its fourth annual Got Water? A Virtual Auction for Clean Water Projects in Africa online auction and raised almost $1,000.
- Through November and December, AWF participated in various alternative gift fairs, raising $1,000.
- Donations from this year have funded clean water projects in:
- Angola: AWF funded three projects in Angola in 2008. More than 30,000 people benefited from clean water projects in the Camakupa, Cela and Kibala municipalities.
- Burkina Faso: This project includes funding seven water points and irrigation canals benefiting 10,000 residents in Karangasso – Vigue
- Ghana: Cocoa famers and their families living in the Wassa Amanfi West District are benefiting from two projects funded by AWF in 2008. A total of 12,000 people will be served by Phase I and II of the project. Phase III is slated for funding in 2009.
- Mali: A well in each of seven villages will benefit 11,000 people in the Timbukta region.
- Niger: The village community of Kabefo will benefit from a deep well funded by AWF, providing potable water to more than 1,000 people.
- Zambia: This is a one-year project being implemented in Nchelenge District of Luapula province. A total of 4,500 people will benefit from the implementation of Safe Water Systems, a water-quality intervention that uses chlorine treatment combined with safe storage and hygiene education to make drinking water safe.
- Zimbabwe: 1,800 people will benefit from the rehabilitation of nine wells in Gokwe South District.
Looking Ahead to 2009
This is already shaping up to be another exciting. Several board members are planning to take a second trip Africa this year, visiting AWF well sites in Ghana. We plan to continue increasing our fundraising presence in various schools around the country. We anticipate the next Bono’s Birthday Well fundraiser to be another success, with this year’s campaign set to kick off in early March to coincide with the release of U2’s new album. The fall will mark our fifth annual Got Water? eBay auction. We’ve already received some exciting items and are accepting donations from supporters. With increased donations we hope to be able to fund some larger-scale clean water projects in order to reach as many people as we can in the most efficient, sustainable manner possible.
AWF is looking to expand our volunteer expertise as well. We are currently seeking volunteers with experience in grant writing, Web programming, accounting, article writing and fundraising. In order to ensure that every dollar donated goes directly to water projects, any administrative costs are funded by merchandise sales (excluding well shares and Mile in Her Shoes certificates), in-kind and direct donations. We remain dependent on our volunteers and donors to make this possible since AWF has no paid staff. Check our volunteer forum often for the latest news on our ongoing projects and to share any new ideas or suggestions.
Thank you again for your support.