UNICEF: tap project

the united nations children's fund, otherwise known as UNICEF, is an agency responsible for several programs to aid children's health and education. they enlist several celebrities, like disney's selena gomez, to contribute to the cause. in 2007, UNICEF developed a new program called the tap project, which focuses on providing clean and accessible water for children all around the world.

water is essential to life, but nearly 2.6 billion people worldwide lack access to clean water, with over half of them being children. every day 4,200 children die of water related diseases. water-borne illness is the second highest cause of childhood death in the world, and represents a global water crisis.

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the project was initially formed in new york city based on a simple concept: restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 for the tap water they usually enjoy for free, and all funds raised would support UNICEF's efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world. just $1 could provide one child with enough water for 40 days or 40 children enough water for one day.

every dollar donated will be used to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices.

check the facts:

• $10 can provide 400 children with enough clean drinking water for one day
• $61 can provide a small scale water filter intended to provide safe drinking water to small groups or families
• $150 provides 2,500 packets of oral rehydration salts to help save the lives of children suffering from diarrheal dehydration due to drinking contaminated water.

UNICEF hopes to cut the number of people without access to clean, sanitary water in half by 2015. if there aren't any participating restaurants in your surround area, you can always visit their webpage and donate at any time or even make a donation via text message. help out with the cause and improve the lives of children around the world. if that isn't enough to motivate you, donations also count as tax-deductibles.

for more information, check out the tap project website.