You could help build a well in Ghana!

The Watersong Project was born out of one woman's desire to help Africans lacking regular access to clean water. Karen Strange, the founder, began this project several years ago. She combined her interest in humanitarian aid with her interest in classical music to create the Watersong Project. 

Ghanaians struggle to find clean water sources.

Strange held a benefit concert in 2009, featuring several professional musicians, to aid efforts to drill a well in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her first endeavor to help people living in the DRC was successful; the concert raised enough money to build a well for a Congolese community. The second event occurred in 2010 and was equally successful. With the collections from this concert, she raised enough money to drill a well in Ghana. The third concert took place on April 9th 2011, which was last Saturday. The proceeds from this concert have not been revealed yet, because it happened so recently. If it's as successful as the previous performances, however, another Ghanaian community will have a new well to look forward to.

Many performers have stuck with the project through all three events. Strange herself sings a few songs for each concert. There have been slight variations in the groups of performers. In the most recent two performances, there have been a few students musicians included in the mix. I was fortunate enough to be asked to perform in the 2011 Watersong Project.

Though this specific opportunity to help build a well has passed, the Watersong Project accepts donations at any time. The benefits concerts are shaping up to be an annual event, so mark your calendar for April 2012 if you're interested.

Democratic Republic of the Congo, courtesy of UMCOR

~ OMO