Recently, UNICEF launched the Tap Project which simply partners with restaurants to provide funds in addressing the water crisis that 900 million people all over the world face every day. The method is simple: restaurants would ask customers to donate $1 or more for tap water that would normally be free. Each dollar provides a child clean water for 40 days.
Originally launched in New York in 2007, the Tap Project garnered nearly 3 million dollars to give a vital necessity to nearly 3 million children all over the globe. This year, however, UNICEF plans to target specifically Togo, Mauritania, Vietnam, and Cameroon. In areas such as these, 4,100 children die daily of water-related diseases such as blinding trachoma.
Participating restaurants in the Los Angeles area include Hugo’s Restaurant, Katsuya, Taste on Melrose, and more. Throughout World Water Week (March 19-25), these restaurants will be participating in the internationally renowned and award-winning project. Not only can one support the project through restaurants but can also fundraise within the community and share the Tap Project on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. This will allow students to actively participate, without spending too much money, in a community project that impacts the world.
Sophomore Eliya Lee believes, as the vice president of the Water Project in GHCHS, the Tap Project “would provide a great opportunity for the clubs on campus to be involved with a project that does not require a lot of money. The Water Project is a club formed by students who spread awareness of the water crisis through fundraising activities, in which all funds go directly to organizations such as UNICEF. Holding similar beliefs to the Tap Project’s cause, Eliya Lee wishes to support the project by “publicizing the project throughout the campus and linking with other clubs as one big movement.” When questioned about how the project would affect the community, Lee responded “Since people spend their money on useless things, I think the project will allow people to spend money on something more important and urgent. One dollar isn’t a lot of money but it reaches out to that one suffering child. This will definitely make people aware of how little they can do for so much.”
The Tap Project’s motto “When You Take Water, Give Water” effectively summarizes a great way for even the most closefisted people and students to share a cup with a child from the other side of the world.
