We don’t always realize it, but it’s stressful being on our phones 24/7. We have to check for messages, emails, alerts, notifications, and even when we don’t have any we check for the them anyway. But what if, by staying off your phone for just a few minutes, you could save a child’s life?
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, or, as we all know it, UNICEF, is holding a “Tap Project.” This project consists of a challenge that anyone with a smartphone can participate in. The challenge is to not touch your phone for as long as you can. For every 15 minutes you don’t use your phone (at all), a donation from the UNICEF sponsors will provide a day of clean water for a child in need.
According to the UNICEF website, “every day, nearly 1,000 children under five years of age die from diseases directly linked to unsafe water or a lack of basic sanitation facilities. You can maximize your impact by making a small donation. With just $1, UNICEF can help provide a child with access to clean, safe water for 40 days.”
We all have busy lives. We can’t always volunteer or partake in community service. But this challenge can be done while you’re sitting in your bed watching Netflix. Though the idea of leaving your phone untouched for more than a few minutes might seem aggravating, it is probably the easiest way to ensure that a child in need will survive. All because you didn’t use your phone. It might even feel nice to get away from all the constant noise.
If you’d like to participate in this challenge, simply go to http://www.unicefusa.org/mission/survival/water/tap-project or google “UNICEF Tap Project.” From there, all you need to do is hit “take the challenge” and further directions will guide you.
[pullquote]Every day, nearly 1,000 children under five years of age die from diseases directly linked to unsafe water or a lack of basic sanitation facilities.[/pullquote]Take a break from the unnecessary phone chatter. You’ll be helping those in need as well as yourself.
For more information, if you would like to donate, go to www.unicef.org.
Samantha Mineroff is a first-year student majoring in English writing with a minor in creative writing. She can be reached at SM825021@wcupa.edu.