Help PlayPumps International Win $50,000 for Mozambique

Published January 28, 2008 @ 10:20AM PT

Help us spread the word about America's Giving Challenge. Together we can win $50,000, and reach thousands in need in Mozambique. We're in the final stretch of America's Giving Challenge and we need your help to win.

Donate $10 now and provide clean drinking water to children and communities in Mozambique--just $10 from each of you and we will win this! We're near the top of the leaderboard, so the time to act is now.

Get your friends, family, and colleagues on board. Visit our challenge page and make a donation today. But hurry, this contest ends January 31st at 3:00pm EST. Donate today!

www.playpumps.org/giving

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How PlayPumps International meets the need for clean water in Mozambique

Mozambique is located in south-eastern Africa with a coast that stretches along the Indian Ocean. Although it has made notable progress in fighting poverty in recent years, Mozambique is still considered one of the poorest countries in the world. 70% of the country continues to live on less than a dollar a day and over 1.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, 58% of which are women.

Children have been greatly affected by the epidemic with over 1.6 million orphaned children in Mozambique alone.When it comes to water and sanitation, Mozambique falls below average when compared to the rest of Africa. Almost 70% of the population lacks safe water to drink. On average, women spend 15-17 hours per week collecting water.

This situation, combined with inadequate sanitation, results in diarrhea causing around 10% of deaths in children under five. In addition, recent severe flooding in much of the country has displaced thousands of people and caused severe food shortages and left people without access to critical resources such as clean water.

The situation is sobering, and yet, in an increasing number of communities throughout Mozambique simple, innovative measures are now available that can provide clean water to thousands of people. Sounds of laughter and signs of better health and hope prevail as children play on the merry-go-rounds that are part of the PlayPump® water system.

To date, we have donated over 99 pumps in the Maputo and Gaza Provinces. While we have made a positive impact in Mozambique's water crisis, there is still much work to be done. If we win this challenge, 4 schools and communities in need will benefit from a PlayPump water system.

Take the challenge today!    
www.playpumps.org/giving