The Last Day

November 14, 2011

It’s the LAST DAY of the Rainmaker Auction on eBay. Thank you to everyone who has donated to and shared about the cause. If something sparks your interest, bid on it. If nothing suits your fancy and you still want to contribute, we gladly take cash donations. Email us at info@obakkifoundation.org.

You can see the difference already. With 100 water wells completed last season, this season we’ve committed to drilling 200 more in South Sudan,  with well # 1 complete and well # 2 are already on its way. Water is life and is the foundation for everything: health, education, community, and most of all peace. With clean water, the people will no longer get sick from water-born diseases and parasites. Children have a chance at education as they no longer have to spend their days walking in search for water.  The community can build and flourish with a constant, reliable and static source of water. People are putting down their weapons and trading them in for water.

Our ground volunteer in South Sudan, states:  ”The eyes of many people are on this project, we have briefed every government department from the Local to the State to the National level.  The Obakki Foundation project represents a great potential for helping the people of South Sudan, with the ultimate pursuit of peace.”

Treana, Founder of the Obakki Foundation, will be visiting South Sudan at the beginning of December to join our crew in the efforts of transforming a country.

It’s Dry Season

November 13, 2011

Yesterday we posted about the rainy season and the monumental effects of water-born diseases. But what happens the other half of the year during the dry season? Take a wild guess. It’s like the cliché saying goes: “so close, yet so far”. Beneath the scorching, cracked earth lies a network of clean and fresh groundwater springs, completely inaccessible to the people above who are dying of thirst. Literally.

Some exciting news has just come in. Well #1 at the returnee camp is complete! Read this blog post about where and why we had to drill here first.  Now, with the help of the United Nations, the people can be moved out of this barely livable camp to new land for permanent settlement. For these families, their future has just begun.

More exciting news. We’ve chosen well #2.  We’re drilling in a remote colony deep into the bush. It was brought to our attention by the humble nuns of Sisters of Charity.  The people of this colony have been outcasted and forced to live far from the village because they have leprosy.  Leprosy is a disease that causes skin sores, nerve damage, and muscle weakness that gets worse over time. It can be severely disfiguring. The sad thing is that it is NOT very contagious and isolating people with this disease in “leper colonies” is not needed.  Despite this, they are treated as the bottom of humanity with little regard. There is a fear of catching the disease and they must send their unaffected children to a neighboring village to fetch water as people with leprosy are not welcome.  When we visited these people, we immediately moved their well to the top of our list.

Our Obakki Foundation correspondent, Ed Smith, writes: “The people were overjoyed when we told them, these are the days when it is great to be a part of this project.”

We also need your help. There is still an incredible need in so many other places: 200 wells is our goal. The Rainmaker Auction on eBay ends tomorrow, November 14th, and items are closing this evening.  Check out the signed drumskin from one of rock’s biggest bands, Journey along with many more signed items for music and sports fans at ebay.com/ObakkiFoundation. 100% goes to the people of South Sudan- no middle man, just The Obakki Foundation to the people.

Smoke and Mud

November 12, 2011

The rainy season in South Sudan lasts from June to November. This photo paints a picture of the striking landscape and also tells a raw story of the reality of the people’s lives.  During the rainy season, rainfall creates streams such as these and serve as the people’s dishwashers, baths, bathrooms and drinking water. Hard to believe. As you can see the water is in no condition to drink. But the danger lies within something that cannot been seen with the human eye: The Guinea Worm.

Guinea worm is a painful, debilitating and gruesome disease that is contracted when a person consumes stagnant water contaminated with microscopic fleas carrying infective larvae. The larvae mature and grow inside a person’s body, with worms sometimes growing to be over a metre long. The worm winds through the body and after a year, slowly emerges through an agonizingly painful blister in the skin. There is no cure. (UNICEF, 2004)  According to the Jimmy Carter’s Foundation, 98% of the world’s guinea worm cases are in South Sudan. The source? Dirty water. It not only affects the health of the people but is also detrimental to the economy and the community, causing productive people to become bedridden or stuck at home caring for those that have been affected by this disease.

Although the civil war ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, the country is far from being at a state of peace.  The local villagers burn the brush to clear the grounds and make sure there are no tyrants hiding in the bush preparing for ambush. The smoke is a chilling reminder that danger is all around, even still today.

Right now, we are mapping out our well sites with key target areas where the guinea worm disease is most prevalent. If you’ve read our other blog posts, you can see not only the health and education benefits water brings, but also the de-weaponizing effect it has had where villagers are trading weapons for water at the 100 Obakki Foundation well sites we drilled last dry season.

This time we’re drilling 200 more wells and we need your help. Our Rainmaker Auction on eBay ends on Monday November 14th with signed celeb items and one-of-a-kind pieces closing everyday. Big items ending today are a personalized autograph from Garth Brooks on his guitar or a VIP concert package and meet & greet with Lady Antebellum.  Make sure you bid, and if you can’t please share it as much as possible with others that might be interested: ebay.com/ObakkiFoundation.  Follow us on twitter (@ObakkiFdn) or facebook for updates and insights.

Rainmaker Auction: Ending Soon

November 11, 2011

100% goes to drilling wells in Sudan. With items closing everyday, the auction ends on Monday November 14th.  Go to ebay.com/ObakkiFoundation.

Bullets Made for Peace

November 11, 2011

South Sudan has been ridden with civil war for the past 40 years and only recently hope for peace has emerged. Bullets that lie on the ground have been transformed into bracelets, worn for life, as a reminder of the war and struggle as well as the hope for peace. Treana Peake, Founder of the Obakki Foundation and Creative Director of Obakki, our luxury fashion line, is seen above getting her very own bracelet as a symbol of her commitment to peace.

You too can help create peace. With only a few days left in our Rainmaker Auction on eBay and items closing today and throughout the weekend, it’s your last chance to get your hands on some incredible items. One of the best known rock photographers in the world, Richard E. Aaron was on-stage and backstage documenting the Classic Rock decades as it unfolded around some of the most important events in music history. Aaron captures musical icons Tom Petty, Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen- in black & white, framed and available on our eBay Rainmaker Auction.

All the proceeds go to our water projects in Sudan. Read our other posts about how water creates peace.

The Impact of One Well: Cypress Park Update

November 9, 2011

This past summer, a group of passionate individuals pooled their efforts together to raise funds for their very own Obakki Foundation well in South Sudan. These individuals were Grade 3 kids of Cypress Park Primary School in Vancouver, Canada.  We were blown away by their incredible commitment, enthusiasm and will to make a difference (this video is guaranteed to shock and amaze you). Take a look at our archives from May and June 2011 to see these kids in action.

They raised the funds and we drilled the well immediately. It’s been a few months since the well has been in place and the difference it has made is astounding. Now 715 school children and their families have clean drinking water. In South Sudan, it’s not uncommon to have as much as eight members in a single family unit.  Accessible clean water also means that children and females in this community no longer have to sacrifice their education and walk long hours carrying 40 kg jerry cans in order to fetch (dirty) water. Clean water also means fewer diseases, a prevalent problem particularly in South Sudan.

We’ve said it before and now it is proving itself: with water comes peace.  Villagers are coming from all around and turning in their weapons for water. Such a simple and monumental feat.

100 other wells, just like this one, were drilled last dry season. This season we’re hoping to drill 200 more and we’ve already started.  Our Rainmaker Auction on eBay benefits our water projects in South Sudan, with 100% of the proceeds going to wells.  The auction goes until Monday November 14th with many great items, including an autgraphed photo by Coldplay, expiring on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So make sure you bid here at: ebay.com/ObakkiFoundation and help spread the word.

After hearing about the impact this well has made, the kids of Cypress Park Primary had some thoughts to share. Remember they are only 8 years old:

“We should make more wells.”  -Charlotte

“I am feeling happy because we built a well and stopped wars.”  -Kai

“I’m really happy because people are trading their guns for water,”  -Aislin

“They don’t have to go and get dirty water anymore.  That’s pretty cool.”  -David

“I’m still sad because there are people in Africa who don’t have water yet.”  -Dax

“I am happy because kids can now have an education and grow plants,”  -Zack

“I’m happy because our well helped Africa a lot,”  -Tobin

“We have started a trend on making water wells in Africa,”  -Jeremy

Here and Now

November 9, 2011

With Nickelback’s ‘Here and Now’ album coming this November 21, 2011, the band has been busy preparing for the album launch as well as their North American tour next year.  The band has been incredibly generous, donating multiple VIP concert packages across North America for our Rainmaker Auction on eBay Giving Works. The auction ends Monday November 14th, with many items expiring over the weekend. If you’re keen on meeting the boys of the band with a personal backstage escort, photo opportunity and the best seats in the house, then get bidding. These make for great holiday gifts and are going to a good cause.

You might also like items from Hinder, Linkin Park, Simple Plan, Foo Fighters and more.

Bid on Bob

November 8, 2011

Hankerin’ to play some Old Time Rock and Roll? Bob Seger has signed a guitar for one lucky die-hard rocker: black, buffed gloss body, and extremely handsome.

Think about it for a second. We’ve got clean water at our fingertips. Imagine even one day without your tap, washing machine, dishwater, flushing toilet or water bottle. That’s what 6 million South Sudanese are facing, everyday. Read our other blog posts for an up-close look at our project straight from our ground personnel.

For the winning bidder, 100% of the proceeds go to drilling water wells in Sudan, no middle man, just us. Bid on Bob or some of his other friend’s items from Queen & Paul Rodgers, Rob Thomas, Eric Church and so many more.

Prince of Darkness

November 7, 2011

Even the Prince of Darkness has a heart for charity. Ozzy Osbourne has donated an autographed black electric guitar for our Rainmaker Auction hosted on eBay Giving Works and the bidding war has already started.  We want to remind you where your money goes and why we’re doing this. Everyday, a little girl in South Sudan, and many places around the world, loses her chance at an education. With no water, she’s forced to quit school and walk hours on end in search of water for her family. During that long and gruelling walk she is subject to harassment by men and walks through dangerous areas, dodging bullets. She fills her 40 litre jerry can with parasite-ridden water then walks back with 40 kilograms on her back. That equals to about 90 pounds, close to her own body weight.

We’re drilling wells in South Sudan to give this little girl a chance at life and the joy of an education. With water, comes development of the community and the people. 100% of your donations go to this cause. Read our other blog posts to learn more about what’s happening on the ground.

We’re auctioning off over 180 items on eBay Giving works. You might also like signed items from:

David Lee Roth- signed vintage vinyl album
Judas Priest- signed concert poster
Charlie Sheen- signed baseball or signed tour booklet
Def Leppard- signed guitar
And more…

Visit ebay.com/ObakkiFoundation

Featured Item: Tiger Woods

November 5, 2011

Tiger Woods has donated a few things to our Rainmaker Auction on eBay Giving Works that have already started a bidding war:  a rare autographed game glove, a signed PGA Championship flag, and a signed nike cap.  Authenticity is guaranteed.

For all you sports fanatics we’ve got a long list of signed items from many other sports legends, great for holiday gifts:

Daniel Brière, NHL
Joe Sakic, NHL
Martin St. Louis, NHL
Jason LaRue, Major League Baseball
Yao Ming, NBA
Tracey McGrady, NBA
And more…

100% of the proceeds to our Obakki Foundation water projects in South Sudan. Be a Rainmaker.