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Subscribe to RSSA little girl's dream to provide clean water to developing countries has continued, even after her death. NBC's Diana Alvear reports.
By Diana Alvear, NBC News correspondent
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Samantha Paul was supposed to be planning her daughter Rachel Beckwith's birthday party. Instead, she was in Tigray, Ethiopia, pumping water from the wells built in Rachel’s memory. It was the dream her little girl never got the chance to see come true.
"She wouldn't believe it, she'd be like awestruck," Paul told NBC News via Skype from Tigray. The Seattle mom herself was awestruck, after seeing the new wells, the exultant smiles, and feeling the love the villagers had for her Rachel.
It began one Sunday after church. Rachel excitedly told her mom about a man from charity:water who had visited her Sunday school class. He told them how he’d given up his birthday celebration. Instead, he’d asked his friends and family to donate to his charity that provided clean drinking water to people in Africa. Rachel wanted to do the same.
"No party, no big presents,” Paul recalled. “She just wanted people to donate to her charity water campaign."
Click here to learn more about Rachel's campaign for safe drinking water.
Her sacrifice came as no surprise to Paul. This was the same girl who’d cut off her long hair to donate to Locks of Love when she was merely 5 years old. She planned to do it again as soon as her hair was long enough.
So when Rachel heard that there were kids in Africa without access to clean water she set a goal of $300 and got to work spreading the word. By the time she turned 9, she’d raised $280. She vowed to do better the next year. But next year never came.
A few weeks later, Rachel was in a car accident. Doctors said her prognosis was grim. As she lay in her hospital bed, Samantha and her family were astonished to discover word of her accident had spread, and that her charity:water campaign had blown past its $300 goal.
“We were just so excited, refreshing the screen and seeing all the new donations and reading the comments and being able to read them to her and letting her know all of these cool people that were thinking about her and donating -- that she was reaching her goal, and then more, and then thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars, said Paul.
Below, watch a 2011 "Nightly News" report about Rachel's cause.
Nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith turned down birthday presents so she could raise money for clean drinking water instead. Beckwith died in a car crash recently, but Charity: Water continues to receive donations in her name. Lee Cowan reports.
Rachel, who did not live to see her modest campaign succeed beyond her wildest dreams, ultimately raised $1.26 million dollars. That was enough to fund 149 wells in several communities in Ethiopia.
A year after her daughter’s death, Paul travelled to those very communities, to see for herself the results of her daughter’s sacrifice. She could not believe her eyes when she arrived at the first village.
“There were parades and signs and they had made special food for us,” she recalled. “They knew Rachel's story and they had pictures of her. They had been praying for her and praying for me.”
Everywhere she went, Rachel was there. Her smiling face was on shirts, posters, on a marble plaque dedicating a new park in her name, on an altar at a church.
“Everybody seemed to know about it, everyone in the countryside knew about this 9-year-old girl from Seattle, Washington that cared about them,” said Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water. “And you know, that floored them. It brought them to tears.”
One mother approached Samantha, hugging her and grieving her loss.
“She was in tears, she had a daughter of her own,” Paul said. “She kept telling me how sorry she was and how wonderful that my little girl was and how she hoped that her little girl would have the same values that Rachel did.”
Rachel’s simple birthday wish meant so much to the people of Ethiopia. Their children often walked for hours to collect water, water often filled with dirt, leeches and disease. Now these same children drank safe, clean water. Paul drank it with them, drinking in their smiles and happiness as well, all thanks to her little girl.
"I always knew that she was special,” she said. “It's amazing that now other people can feel how special she was."
Samantha said seeing the wells and meeting the people whose lives have changed thanks to her daughter’s compassion have helped heal her tremendous loss. Her one regret is that her beloved little girl did not get to see her birthday wish come true.
"I really miss Rachel and I wish that … she could still be here, especially to see all the kids and the people that are going to benefit from her wish."
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If I can only say one thing to this little girl's mom, i would say that God sometimes send angels to this earth with special missions and her daughter was one of those angels. She was here to make a difference, to be a impact in other peoples life. She prove to others that there is a God and he cares for everyone. I know you miss her and you wish she were here, but if you look good you will see that she is. Look the eyes of those kids and you will see your little girl. They have a chance of life because of her tender heart. God bless you! Clicia Ribeiro
Wow what an emotional story. It would be true to say I was crying and at the same time so happy for all the people Rachel's wish helped. Just think if all the over paid actors/actresses, athletes and politicians would donate just a million how many more water wells could be dug and how many lives it would change. Welcome Diana great first story!
Rachel is proof positive that there are extraordinary people in the world that are more caring than many of us could possibly imagine. She's created a huge, blatant example of how we all should behave, and she shows that, contrary to what so many people are fond of saying when tragedy happens, there IS hope for humanity so long as there are people like Rachel in this world.
I've followed this story since last year, and it has, continues to do so, and always will bring tears to my eyes. Just the simple fact that a little girl can touch so many lives while losing hers. And the simple generosity of people around the world. It goes to show that there is more good then bad in the world.
Heartwarming, and heartbreaking, both at once. But it leaves me with a good feeling. I'm so sorry the wonderful, selfless girl didn't see the fruits of her labor, but she lives on in the minds and hearts of all those people memorializing her.
How about we leave god out of it and just say what a tremendous person she was and how those who knew her and benefited from her caring gesture are better for it.
Because God is a big part in MOST people's lives. You don't have to LIKE what people write but deal with it bradspace- most people believe in God ... God played a big part in this... Thank you Lord! Have a nice day.
No you don't leave God out of anything, thank God for her compassion
How does that saying go, He drew a circle to shut me out, I drew a circle that took him in.What a shame there are those who will never know the amazing gift that faith can bring. To weather the storms of life, bring comfort, peace and help one know they will never be alone on the journey of life.
This sweet angel showed how simple the way for any of us to change the world just by deciding to do so.It isn't very hard, if we just decided it was more important than some of the silly things we waste our time on.Do any of you know how many elderly are in nursing homes who never have any visitors, ever? I DARE you. Stop in one, ask who doesn't get any visitors and you will get a list. The forgotten. It doesn't have to be in some foreign country that requires money.Imagine yourself there one day. Then go back again, again, make new friends.They don't ask much.Bring your kids, let them see, appreciate and learn.Or visit and animal shelter and help walk the dogs, entertain the cats.Find some way to volunteer at a shelter for homeless. Do something now.
what a special person and yes she can see the people of ethiopia and what a wonderful mom she has
As I write these words, my mother is dying...maybe within a few days...maybe a little longer if God wills it. My wonderful loving mother, like this little girl has such a kind heart for giving – a good heart for love, compassion and understanding for the unfortunate, the lost and the downtrodden. It's truly baffling how some people develop or naturally have such a selfless and caring spirit of giving and others in this world...such a self-centered spirit of self-gratification. Every day we read about people who are suffering all around the world, as in Syria and it’s self-centered evil dictator who has no regard for life as well as families suffering who live right here in America… i.e. the poorest of the poor living in the mountains of North Carolina and elsewhere and compare it to this little girl’s ability to love; a little girl who wants to ‘fix’ the world. Imagine such a world if people simply loved one-another and did what was morally right in simply reaching out to the needy and helping their fellow man as this little angel. One small goal of a little angel that ended up being a major success that has helped so many people in need – truly inspiring! Her example sets the GREATEST example of what can be accomplished and what love can do…IF we work together for the same cause. Self-centeredness, hatred, bitterness, and being unwilling to forgive – is nothing more than useless excess baggage that robs the heart of its design and potential – Christian Faith International.com
You've got , that's right. I'm sorry about your mother hope she gets better soon.
Thank you Susan for your thoughtfulness but she'll be going to her new home, God's home, within the week if not sooner...and while drifting in and out of the spiritual world...has begun communicating with her deceased brothers and sisters...meaning she's made her peace and is ready.
As I tell everyone, always tell the people you care about how much you love them and the things you want or need to say...say now. We think we have all the time in the world...but you never know when God will take back the 'breath of life' he gave us. Again...thank you and have a blessed day!
Thank God for the blessings of children. Rachel was born with a servant's heart. Sometimes it is the children that we need to model and we should all take note of the legacy she left us. My daughter wrote from Kenya last year how the lives of the people were dominated by a daily trek of several miles each way to the closest water. She is now in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia and is able to benefit from the community well system. My heartfelt thanks go out to Rachel's family in their loss as well as the message of hope they provide.
This is what this whole world should be about. Imagine .. God sent an Angel to show us how to be. She did her job and he rewarded her by taking her home. God bless that little girl with the big heart and her parents for allowing her to act on her dream. People could learn allot from her and as she did show compassion for another unknown stranger. R.I.P. Rachel.....<3
So nice to see good things for a change. Sorry that she didn't get to see her dream. Hope it will still be going after these are done. They can use all the water you can find.!!!
Hi Everybody,
We are doctor couple founding a charity hospital. Please support the campaign. We are offering free life time online consultation to donors. Please take out a moment’s time to share this post. This can help in a great way.
Thanks in advance. Have a great day.
Hi Everybodyww.facebook.com/TheCatholicChurch
We are doctor couple founding a charity hospital. Please support the campaign. We are offering free life time online consultation to donors. Please take out a moment’s time to share this post. This can help in a great way.
Thanks in advance. Have a great day.