[Mission: Agua-Possible] is snowballing! Please help us bring water to a thirsty Venezuelan family!

Hi, this is DRutter, and here's week 37 of Mission: Agua-Possible! This post updates our progress toward the 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 collapsing, 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 man called Guaidó, who also has little public support. 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 fixed a broken circuitboard this week. Replacement is impossible, so he either goes without, or finds a way to fix it. )

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!

Steem price flat, but a big donation kept us moving

A 35 Steem donation from @joshman, representing 1% of the completed project (at current price), has boosted our progress to the highest point yet. His upvote was also significant, and it will be great to have him helping out as we continue onward. We've picked up quite a few awesome supporters now, and it wouldn't be possible without them! Thank you all very much.

This really is a group effort. I may have had the idea, and I'm writing the posts. But I truly want to acknowledge all of YOU, who are providing the Steem to make it work, and the other forms of support like sharing, comments, suggestions, etc. I don't want anything out of this, except to see good people that need clean running water can get it. Therefore, I'm very happy to pass along all the credit and acknowledgement and gratitude it will generate. It truly is a community project (and not about me). Decentralized, just like the blockchain itself. Thank you so much for making it happen.

Much appreciation to those who upvoted last week:

Week 37

week 36 funds: 266.831 Steem

new funds:

• week 36 post payout = 0.271 SBD and 0.684 STEEM POWER = 1.368 Steem
• 35.0 Steem direct donation from @joshman
• 1.0 Steem direct donation from myself
• 0.5 Steem direct donation from @MediKatie
• you can send me Steem directly and your donation will be noted here

Total funds: 304.699 Steem

x 0.400 USD/Steem = $121.88 USD (of $1300)

Current progress: 9.4%

We've got over 300 Steem now, and approaching that psychological 10% barrier. Can we smash through? Remember, if Steem went back up to $4 like it was a year ago, we would already be done! We may not be as far away from the finish line as it seems.

Edgar's family and neighborhood, who relied on the water from the aquifer under his land, continue to go without it. When the pump burned out, quite a few people had to start drinking questionable water, and/or walk long distances carrying containers of water bought or traded for nearby.

I can't imagine that being me, but a few years ago, neither could the people of Venezuela! Edgar was a professional man, and now picks wild fruit, and fishes in dangerous waters, to keep his family eating! They have waited for water long enough. Let's get this funded.

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