Germantown, M.D. – A group of organizations have rallied together with Journey’s Crossing and Living Water International to raise awareness and raise funds to end to the clean water crisis through the Reel Water Film Festival, a non-profit project that will kick-off it’s first event on June 16th in Germantown, M.D.
Festival Director Tiffany Jones says it’s been “amazing to see how passionate people have been about the project, and really inspiring to see it come together.”
The venue will be held at the Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland and will fund the drilling and maintenance of wells to provide clean and safe drinking water to impoverished and under-developed communities across the globe.
Journey’s Crossing:
Journey’s Crossing Church pulled the event together in hopes of involving the arts community in raising funds for a project that will drill wells in various parts of the world plagued by a lack of clean and sustainable water. The church hopes this festival will be the first of many, which would provide the resources necessary to build wells internationally. However, this first festival will focus the development in Africa.
Jones has been with Journey’s Crossings’ as the graphics and communications coordinator since 2011. Her background in film production made her the clear choice to head the festival.
The idea for the event came from Worship Pastor Bill Wilkinson. Pastor Wilkinson also envisions hosting four annual events that would involve the various branches of the arts communities. The events would similarly raise funds to end the clean water crisis, while simultaneously celebrating and promoting each art form including: film, music, performance art, and painting/sculpture. Journey’s Crossing is especially interested in film or art that seeks to produce change through cause-related subject matter, such as documentary films.
World Water Crisis:
The UN recognized access to clean drinking water and sanitation as a fundamental human right in 2010. However, according to UNICEF and the World Health Organization 11 percent of the worlds population, nearing close to one billion people, lack access to clean water and are susceptible to the epidemics and child mortality that follow.
At the center of development and growth lies the ability to breed to a healthy population, a factor made impossible without access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Many women spend 15 to 20 hours per week collecting water, with many walking up to seven miles during the dry seasons.
Living Water International:
Living Water International is a faith-based organization that found its start in Texas. Since then, they have created participatory water-solutions for a multitude of communities across 26 countries. The organization has taken volunteers and mission trips to drill wells, repair pumps, and teach sanitation/hygiene education to thousands of international communities since 1990. Through a methodology of training, educating, and equipping the company has been able to involve communities in their own growth.
The task of drilling and sustaining the wells would be coordinated by Living Water International, Journey’s Crossings’ partnering team,
Submission, Donation, Volunteering:
Full submission guidelines are available online
Criteria and positions available for volunteers are available here
Information about sponsorship benefits for companies interested in getting involved can be found here
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