May 1, 2008, a very special literary event to bring clean water to the Samburu People of Northern Kenya.

The line-up: Dave Eggers, best-selling author of What is the What, on the Writing Life; reading by acclaimed author Maxine Hong Kingston; poetry readings by Roger Housden (author of the Ten Poems series) and poet-novelist Elizabeth Rosner (Blue Nude, The Speed of Light); live music; performance by Nina Wise. Hosted by Beth Lisick, author of Helping Me Help Myself.

The cause: All money raised goes toward building the second of a series of water catchment areas along the migration route of the Samburu people of Northern Kenya, near the border with Ethiopia. The water will save their children from the fatal diseases of polluted water sources, and will also help to sustain the Samburu’s fragile nomadic way of life.
The groundwork is administered by a global charity, Wherever The Need. David Crosweller, the founder, will be here from London to give a brief talk and slide show on the project.

Where: Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason
Tickets: $30.00 (see link above)
Contact: 415 345 7575
Can’t make the event? You can go here to donate directly to Wherever the Need.

More on water: my sister’s boyfriend, David Wolking, will be leading a water filtration project in Zimbabwe this summer. I’ll post more on that project as information becomes available.