Help us, please! A man from Steemit needs water! [Mission: Agua-Possible]

I'm DRutter, and you're reading week 33 of Mission: Agua-Possible! We're progressing toward our goal of 1300 USD (in STEEM), for a well pump to bring water to the family farm of @EdgarGonzalez.

Background

Severe economic and political crisis over the past few years in the South American country of Venezuela intensified recently, as president Maduro doubled down on his currency manipulation, price-fixing, propagandizing citizens, and suppressing resistance. You've heard about the country's recent turmoil. But the world's media isn't showing us even half the reality!

I began to see more and more Steem users from Venezuela, and I started to hear their interesting stories - and ask questions. I discovered some dark truths about the economic and political situation there. Most shops are empty, the currency is worthless, people are hungry - the economy is at a standstill. Theft, corruption, and violence escalate as society breaks down. Millions are fleeing on foot - if they can. The harsh socialist government attempts to control/fix the economy, and blames problems on the people. Most government services (like running water) work only in certain areas - or not at all.

The people are desperate for any change and protests sometimes fill the streets for miles. Maduro announced that Venezuela will no longer accept US Dollars for oil exports, then tried to get his country's gold back from Bank of England, who refused. The Russian military has become involved, supporting Maduro. The Americans back a previously-unknown man called Guaidó. Electrical blackouts have become common. It seems that violence is coming. Stability for the people appears out of reach.

Edgar

Months ago, I found the blog of Edgar (@edgargonzalez), a Venezuelan man about my age. He's a father of young children, and a professional whose job disappeared because of the crisis. He feeds his family by fishing, foraging for fruits, and growing cassava on his late-father's plantation. He uses Steemit to share his stories and earn Steem to buy food. Shortly after I met Edgar, a power outage caused a failure of the pump used to bring water up to the farm. A repairman confirmed the pump is beyond fixing. Edgar had been using his well to water his crops, and to provide drinking water to his children and other families in the neighborhood. Without a pump to bring water up from the aquifer, his garden output has dropped - and the neighborhood must forage for water elsewhere.

( Edgar caught fish this week, bringing nutrients to hungry tummies. )

Without government water services, and now without water from his well, Edgar and a few other families are in a tough situation. I wondered what a poor Canadian man could do to help. After using the Steem blockchain to learn about the problems, I realized that it could also be the SOLUTION!

That's when I first began Mission Agua-possible! Once we gather 1300 USD worth of Steem, I'll transfer it to Edgar, to be converted to cash to buy the pump.

Getting this pump for the farm as soon as possible is vital. Water is life!

Everything helps!

We had a direct donation from a regular to help out this week, although the price of Steem fell yet again, keeping us from surging ahead in overall progress. When the crypto market recovers, we'll see rapid gains. Until then, there are people going thirsty, and that's not cool!

Resteems help get new eyes (and upvotes) into the project, so thank you if you're able to resteem occasionally.

Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:

Week 33

week 32 funds: 202.617 Steem

new funds:

• week 32 post payout = 0.331 SBD and 0.959 STEEM POWER = 1.918 Steem
• 5.0 Steem direct donation from @jk6276
• 0.5 Steem direct donation from @MediKatie
• you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here

Total funds: 210.035 Steem

x 0.342 USD/Steem = $71.83 USD (of $1300)

Current progress: 5.5%

We hit a high of 7.3% progress a few weeks ago, but the collapsing price of Steem has really hampered growth since then.

We have over 210 Steem saved up now! Every upvote, comment, and resteem helps. Not just in a nominal way, but every action also has a reverberation - other actions and reactions started by the first. You won't see all the ways your input helps, but it DOES help.

Thanks to everyone getting us a step closer, an inch closer - any amount closer - to bringing water to our thirsty friends in South America.

Upvoting this post is appreciated so much! 100% goes to the project.

Mission Agua-Possible will help many people, and inspire other great projects. It's a group success story, playing out on the Steem blockchain. Together, we're going to dramatically improve the lives of a whole neighborhood that really needs it!

DRutter