The "1000 Wells Project" is based on the premise that one dollar provides one year of clean water for one person in Africa. For 1,000 hours (approximately 40 days) this coming Spring, Jars of Clay will ask artists, bands, audiences, college students, pastors, youth leaders and business leaders across the country to mobilize the people within their communities to each donate one dollar for Africa.
Funds raised through the "1000 Wells Project" will be distributed to a network of organizations equipped and dedicated to clean water development in the poorest countries of Africa. Blood:Water Mission is building partnerships with organizations across the continent including Lifewater International, Integrated Community Development International, Compassion International, World Vision International, African Leadership, Groups of Women in Water and Agriculture K’ochieng, and DATA. These partnerships focus on sustainable improvements in community health and on the development of community leadership and participation.
“Approximately 80 percent of deaths in developing countries are water-related,” says Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine. “Waterborne illnesses are a major burden to African communities and can be virtually eliminated with the provision of clean water. One of the hard truths about HIV/AIDS in Africa is that the crisis is massive. It’s difficult to get our heads and hearts around it, and it’s not possible if we simply look at Africa from a distance. We hear big numbers like 29 million people have died or that 15 million orphans have been left behind. It’s hard to think that we can make any difference, but we can.”
In early September, Jars of Clay invited their New Jersey audience to help two Kenyan communities in need of clean water. The audience members, by giving one dollar each, came up with enough funds to build those two wells. The construction is in its final completion and has already given 2,000 Africans, including hundreds of widows and orphans, the gift of clean water.
“When we provide clean water, we most definitely change the face of AIDS in a developing community forever,” says Haseltine. “One dollar can change the world for one person. In this case, your dollar will not only provide clean water for someone, but it will also provide hope.”
The "1000 Wells Project" will be administrated through the Blood:Water Mission website, which will be launched in November. Interested parties will have the ability to create, print and download their own promotional materials including posters, fliers, video and audio PSAs. Blood:Water Mission is an extension of the humanitarian focus Jars of Clay has maintained since the band’s beginning in 1994. As active, long-time supporters of organizations such as Amnesty International, Prayer for the Persecuted Church, World Vision, Habitat for Humanity and African Leadership, Jars of Clay has long possessed a heart for the poor and suffering. Blood:Water Mission is the band’s way of making a sustained commitment to fighting the HIV/AIDS crisis; a pandemic called by UN Special Envoy James Morris, “the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has ever seen.”
“It’s amazing how one dollar can change a life,” says Jars of Clay’s Charlie Lowell. “Think of how many lives we can change if we would just work together. How can we afford not to?”
With career sales of more than five million, three GRAMMY Awards, an American Music Award nod, 16 No.1 radio hits, numerous film credits and accolades for writing and performing, Jars of Clay continues its success with the release of Who We Are Instead (11/4/03), which has produced the No.1 radio single, Show You Love.
In addition, the band is seeing tremendous response from the television and film community. Jars’ music has recently been selected for use in film trailers, soundtracks and television shows. Show You Love has been featured in the Spain*glish movie trailer, the WB’s hit series Summerland as well as on UPN’s new show, Kevin Hill. Lonely People was tapped for use in the WB’s popular Everwood series and was also chosen for the Everwood soundtrack. The band is currently on the “Where We Are Instead” tour with special guests Sarah Kelly and Trevor Morgan.
