TAKE THE WALK : Blood:Water in Brazil

TAKE THE WALK : Blood:Water in Brazil

Hosting a "Take the Walk" event, Blood:Water supporters in Belo Horizonte, Brazil exceeded their highest expectations.

111 people signed up from several different places in Brazil and several from outside Brazil to "Take the Walk," a one mile advocacy walk to raise funds and support for clean water projects in Africa.

Even some visitors at the park curious about what was about to happen joined in the walk having only heard of the Take the Walk and Blood:Water Mission, minutes before the walk started.

This was the second walk organizer, Juca, has held. The year before he put on his first event in Brazil's capital, Brasillia. This year the efforts of Juca and his dedicated team of organizers garnered what was for them a surprisingly high turnout considering that for some, this was their first time in helping Blood:Water.

Juca, started by letting people know a little more about how the Take the Walk project works and about Blood:Water Mission. Many people took off their shoes and walked barefoot up and down the hills of the Mangabeiras Park, where the mile walk was held, as it's common to walk barefoot at the TTW walks, as an illustration of the reality in Africa and a way to connect with the millions of Africans who cannot enjoy the comfort offered by a pair of shoes as they walk miles each day for water. Attendees were made aware of the need for clean water and of the importance of each $1 donated at the walk, according to the equation that $1 = Clean Water for 1 African for 1 Year.

The Take the Walk Project was started by the band, Hanson, who for the past couple of years now has held one mile walks before many of their shows. Through TTW, every mile walked supports one of five causes making an impact in Africa by donating $1 on behalf of each person who walked. The walk in Brazil choose to have their walk support clean water through Blood:Water as their cause.

Juca described his satisfaction over the event's success, as "one more reward and confirmation that it is always worth working together for our goals, on behalf of our friends." He saw in the walk a great example of "personal engagement with social justice, by people who have never met anyone in those communities in Africa, but [who have] decided to establish a relationship with them and have been transformed at every single step."

From Brazil to Botswana the concept of neighbor is changing. You can visit www.takethewalk.net to find out more or sign up to host your own Water Walk on our Take Action page.