It is my 23rd birthday on 9th May. I am looking forward to it, although it is slightly marred by my impending finals that start the day after. Every year I get asked the same question; what do you want for your birthday? I am in a very privileged position to have gifts bought for me on this day. However, this year I'd like to do things differently.

A couple months ago, our water stopped working in the house I share with some friends. It was completely cut off. There was a slight uncertainty around as we spoke to the water company and neighbours about the situation; How would we get a cup of tea? How would we shower? How would we flush the loo?

It may sound rather silly, but I realised how great we had it. The fact that I can go to the kitchen and get a glass of water. And that this water was clean and drinkable. So I started to look into those who didn't have this and what I found was astounding:

Almost a billion people don't have access to clean water.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old.

This is not ok. I want to do something about this. So this is what I am going to do.

This year for my birthday, I will give all of my monetary birthday gifts to chairty:water. Chairty:water is a "non-profit organisation bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations." 100% of their donations go into their projects, while their staff are funded by outside sources. For more information check out their website: http://www.charitywater.org/

Over the next week I will be posting something every day about charity:water and how providing clean water does more than quench thirst.

I know that some people like to give gifts, and I don't want to take that away from people. But can I suggest if you would like to get me a gift, then please get a smaller one and give a donation as well. This is what I want for my birthday.

Also, for those who don't usually give me a gift, but want to give someone access to a basic human need, I will be setting up a Just Giving page for people to give to.

Thank you all in advance for this.