| MAY 2008
Bringing clean, flowing water to Africa seems like a monumental task until you tackle it one village at a time. That’s the philosophy behind Poetry For Water, a series of performance events dedicated to raising funds for Wherever the Need, a nonprofit in the US and UK that helps global villages develop better water supplies and other necessities for life.
Local poet and author Roger Housden has organized the Poetry for Water events to show how poetry works for change and to assist his friend, David Crosweller, founder of Wherever the Need. The May 1 Poetry for Water event at Fort Mason Center’s Cowell Theater features lively spoken word sessions and guest appearances by local literary celebrities such as Dave Eggers and Elizabeth Rosner. Innovative improv artist Nina Wise also contributes to the action on the Cowell stage.
Many villages in Africa, India, and other parts of the world need year-round sources of clean water to improve public health, according to Housden and Wherever the Need. Lack of access to clean water causes illness and deaths among adults and children.
 The Poetry for Water events boost the quality of life in such villages by raising modest amounts of money for water projects. Housden estimates that a mere $8,000 to $10,000 can pay for a community’s well with a basic hand-operated pump, rainwater collection tanks, and eco-sanitation toilets. Wherever the Need also helps villages become self-sufficient through economic projects such as tool shops, sewing centers, and bee hives.
Enjoy an evening of thoughtful verse, spoken word, and sheer inspiration at Poetry for Water. For more information, see May 1 in the calendar. Watch a YouTube video about Wherever the Need’s projects in Sierra Leone at www.rogerhousden.com and find out more about clean water programs at www.wherevertheneed.co.uk.
— Claudia Willen
Images:
Africa (image detail) Photo: David Crosweller
Roger Housden Photo: Karen Fuchs
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