2 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water because of smart investment in water and sanitation. This is resulting in 1,656 children’s lives saved every day. Now that’s great news, but there is still much to do – 3.4 million people die each year from water, sanitation and hygiene related causes. Completely preventable, stupid, loss of life that should not be allowed in today’s world. Yet it goes on. Women and girls are most affected by this tragic reality, keeping them trapped in extreme poverty and devastated by preventable disease.

For World Water Day, March 22, ONE asked its members to donate their voices to raise awareness about the importance of water sustainability. The Chicago ONE Congressional District Leaders rose to the challenge by raising awareness at the Global Passport Youth Summit. The event was sponsored by Surge for Water, a US nonprofit organization that funds projects that provide access to safe water in developing regions.

Chicago ONE Congressional District Leader Nina Rodriguez discusses facing fears and making a difference. Chicago weather can be often unpredictable and severe. Last week, there was a winter storm in Chicago, causing a mix of heavy rain and snow. Despite the winter storm, several dedicated individuals attended the ONE “Advocacy in Action” Meet and Greet at

Chicago ONE Congressional District Leader Kyle Deming shares tips on how to translate your passion into effective advocacy. A few weeks ago, ONE Regional Field Director Tzviatko Chiderov and I led an “Advocacy in Action” event at Wicker Park in Chicago. The purpose of the event was two-fold: first, to provide current and prospective ONE

International development accounts for less than 1 percent of the US budget. A small piece of the pie, which helps save, protect and feed hundreds of millions of people. Our wonderful ONE volunteers throughout the country are on a mission to make sure that people in their communities are educated about these facts and issues,

ONE at Chicago AIDS Run 2012 5,500 people died of AIDS today. These are mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends whose stories are often left in the shadows of oblivion. Their voices rendered silent from the ability to live full and productive lives —5,500 voices silenced by a preventable disease. Photo caption: ONE Regional

What do wizards, magic wands and flying broomsticks have to do with ONE, lifesaving programs like the Global Fund, and the fight against extreme poverty? Before attending LeakyCon, the Harry Potter Convention in Chicago a few days ago, my answer to this question was absolutely nothing. Despite being a Harry Potter aficionado and a sucker

Walking boma to boma to leave no dog unvaccinated in villages surrounding the Serengeti National Park: Copyright Lincoln Park Zoo. At ONE, we love sharing unexpected stories of US-funded programs that help benefit the health and economies of communities across Africa. In this piece, we are thrilled to have US Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) tell

ONE Regional Field Director Tzviatko Chiderov talks about his experience at a recent Chicago Council event with Roger Thurow. As Chicagoans, not only are we fortunate to have the Chicago Council in our backyard, but to also to have author Roger Thurow call our city his home. When these two come together, it’s a guaranteed

ONE Regional Field Director Tzviatko Chiderov meets with a fascinating young entrepreneur from Malawi. I met an inspiring African entrepreneur the other day. Rachel Sibande is a true leader from Malawi who is helping her country and her people prosper. Rachel is working on an exciting project that is providing smallholder farmers in Malawi with

This week, Chicago ONE members met at the Cactus Bar and Grille in Chicago to test their international knowledge at the annual “Dancing with the Czar’s” pub quiz. The challenge consisted of five rounds focused on various aspects of current events around the world. ONE is an active partner with the Chicago Council and encourages

ONE Member Diana Kakoma reports on a cool event from Chicago. It was a particularly beautiful Friday morning when I met the seven African business owners visiting Chicago as part of US State Department’s Young African Leaders Program. Like many of their colleagues who had gone to other cities, they came to the US to

ONE Regional Field Director Tzviatko Chiderov I attended a very interesting event in Chicago last week. It was held in celebration of Roger Thurow’s new book, The Last Hunger Season, and in benefit for the One Acre Fund, an organization which provides tools and resources to help smallholder farmers in rural Africa grow themselves out

ONE Regional Field Director Tzviatko Chiderov reports on a recent event in Chicago Food security has started dominating many development discussions, and for a good reason — hunger alleviation is a basic prerequisite to helping people lift themselves out of poverty and prospering in their communities, and investing in agriculture is a key means to

Over a 100 people gathered on Saturday, March 25 to commemorate World Water Day at an educational event in Chicago sponsored by SURGE for Water, a non-profit that promotes clean water projects globally and raises awareness about water issues locally. Senator Durbin spoke, thanking ONE for our work passing the Senator Paul Simon Water for