While college students spend their days typing their essays away at Starbucks, sipping lattes and pounding Red Bull before finals, the team behind The Wells Project is taking a proactive look at what good can be done if they channeled some of those funds toward those who don’t even have clean water.
The Wells Project organized a free concert on Thursday, Sept. 29, to promote the 10 Days Campaign that will begin on Monday, Oct. 10, and continue until Wednesday, Oct. 19. The campaign suggests that all college students willing to participate drink water as their only beverage for the allotted 10 days, donating the money saved from not buying coffee, soda or other drinks to help provide clean water in Rwanda.
Christian singer-songwriter Phil Wickham was the main performer of the night at Alumni Park.
“He’s been awesome,” said Wells Project founder Henry Proegler. “His heart really matches up with ours, and he’s just a really gracious, giving person. We’re thrilled he was able to make it out.”
The 10-day campaign is designed to raise both awareness and funds on college campuses nationwide for the water crisis in Africa. All benefits will be used to provide 10 Rwandan communities with clean water.
The 10 Days was organized by Proegler and his fellow Texas A&M students in 2007. Proegler said his inspiration came from a concert held during his sophomore year at A&M, where musician Derek Webb discussed the water crisis from stage.
“There was just this drive of ‘something has to happen,’” Proegler said. “And then I think what’s encouraged us to press on and try to grow this thing is that we’ve had success at a lot of schools. The initial spark was that concert, and I think since then it’s just been seeing Jesus show up when we try to put something on.”
After the first campaign, the students created the student-led organization now known as “The Wells Project,” currently present on almost 20 campuses.
“This thing is so much more than funds raised,” Proegler said. “It’s about the whole idea of what we’re spending our money on and challenging this idea that we’re poor as college students. We have a lot of opportunity to change the world.”
Last week’s event was the first kick-off event for the national campaign. The next stop was Oklahoma State University on Oct. 4 where Charlie Hall and Kristian Stanfill performed.
Wickham performed again at the University of Oklahoma on Oct. 5 and will continue to perform throughout Texas.
Proegler said he hopes they can hold another concert at Pepperdine next year. But for this year, they will be tabling in the Caf and collecting money on campus starting Oct. 19 and continuing for several days afterward. To donate, go to www.10days.cc.
