A True Need

A True Need

By Ashlan Gorse Jul 22, 2011 12:19 AMTags
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Humans only need three things: water, food and shelter.

I was born into a loving family who was able to provide me with everything. I always had amazing food around the dinner table, a beautiful house to live in, cool clothes to wear to school and help with my homework. I am so lucky.

For my 30th birthday, I decided I wanted to do something big to help others. I wanted to spread my good fortune and blessings. That's when I found out about 1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean water. ONE BILLION PEOPLE. Saying I took my clean water for granted is an overstatement. To tell you the truth, I didn't even think about it. I turned on the faucet and it came out, I flushed the toilet and it was there, I could go to the store and buy it whenever I wanted. To think that some people don't have clean water was mind-boggling to me.

Through my co-worker and friend Jason Kennedy, I was introduced to a great organization called Generosity Water (generositywater.org). They are an amazing non-profit who build wells in impoverished communities. With each well, they change the lives of countless humans and I wanted to play a part, so I sponsored one.

My well was commissioned in May and now it's up and running. Located in the Eastern region of Ghana, it is now providing 900 people with clean water. But it wasn't until I saw the smiles on the villagers faces, that I truly realized the impact one little well can make.