Walking for my water- April's challenge

Walking for my water this April

Hello, my name is Jillian and I am embarking on an exciting project this April, called the Inequality Question. The vision myself and Nicola, the founder of Support And Love Via Education (S.A.L.V.E), share is to bring about global conversations through a series of short weekly challenges each month to rethink our assumptions and show our solidarity to improving inequalities. We will also be fundraising for different organizations that are already working to change these inequalities in the world.

This month in recognition of the International Day for Street Children on 12th April we wanted to embark on a series of challenges that can bring awareness and experience in our own lives some of the inequalities homeless children can face.  All fundraising for this challenge will go to S.A.L.V.E. International for street children living in Uganda.

Why am I walking for my water?

I will be challenging myself to one week (April 4-11th) of walking for the water I use. This challenge is based around the average distance a person in Africa has to walk per day to get their water. The average distance an African woman or child has to walk to collect water is 6kms (4miles) each day for about 8 litres of water, which is used for drinking, bathing and cleaning. In other words, I will be walking 1km for every 0.75L of water I use. This challenge may help me understand the amount of time and adaptions to my life that will be necessary to have water. Many children on the streets struggle to access clean water at all, so this challenge will expand my awareness on this issue, as well as make me appreciate how easy access to clean water has helped my life.

What rules will I follow?

To keep track of my distance for this week, I have borrowed a pedometer to measure how many steps I've walked, ran or need to go for the amount of water I use. I will carry a 1L bottle with me at all times and will only have walking or running count. I have made arrangements at home to make sure my bathing, dishes and other water use is able to be measured (i.e. using tubs in lieu of shower). I will not count toilet flushing, only my direct water consumption and use (i.e drinking water, water to cook, water to clean and water to share with my plants). I will not be accepting water from others, but I will be able to share my water, if I so chose to. I will not count what is referred to as "invisible water", which is an estimate of how much water is used to produce certain items (i.e. litres of water to grow and transport a banana for my consumption). Since I am doing this challenge from Vancouver, Canada, the spring weather bring rainwater I can collect outside without me needing to walk. As I progress, I'm sure I will be faced with more situations that I will develop these rules, but this is my starting point and assurance I will not cut corners.

My challenge will be taking place from 4th – 11th April 2016, so be sure to follow me for daily posts!

Join Me

This is a bit of an experiment – and as with all experiments the more people take part the more interesting and useful the results! Either you could do the same challenge and walk for your water or choose another challenge that has meaning for you that you want to explore. For example living on £1 or $1.50 a day for food and drink, or having your decision being made for you by someone of the opposite gender.

Please join in on the conversations, start your own challenges and donate to ensure we make it through these challenges. 

This month all proceeds will go to S.A.L.V.E. to support street children in Uganda: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?campaignId=2245&charityId=1002060

Follow me on Facebook (Jillian Kowalchuk), Twitter (@kowalchuk_jill) and Instagram (@inequalityquestion) to keep up-to-date on April's #inequalityquestionchallenge.