Chen Kun, the famous Chinese actor, singer and spokesperson for the charity event launched in Beijing, appeals to audiences to save water and do their part for the charity project. [Weibo]

A launch ceremony of a charity event centered on saving water and helping people who suffer from water-shortage kicked off in Beijing with Chinese movie star Chen Kun as its spokesperson on April 20.

The charity project, known as "Water Cellar for Mothers", helps people in western China, especially rural women, to alleviate the poverty caused by severe water shortage.

Jointly set up by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) in 2000, the project has already helped thousands of people by building durable underground cellars to collect excess rainwater.

At the launch ceremony, Chen, who has acted in many of the country's most popular recent films, appealed to the audiences to save water and do their part for the charity project.

"I'm seen and publicized widely among Chinese audiences, and will take full advantage of my position. I want more people to know how serious and urgent the issue of water is in China, and hope I could turn their focus to the topic," said Chen.

After the launch ceremony, various affordable methods for participating in the campaign were presented, in the hope that more common people would dedicate themselves to addressing the issue.

Chen said it was convenient for mobile users to take part in the charity event either online or offline. Mobile users could download the special app about the program to save water and use this to donate. Besides, participants were also invited to collect "Water Drops," through activities such as running or other interactions.

After the latest campaign, which commenced earlier this year, 1.4 billion water drops are expected to be collected by online and offline interactions. These "Water Drops" can be converted into funds of about 6 million yuan (U.S. $1 million) to benefit more people in the growing number of areas affected by water scarcity.

Chen recalled that an earlier campaign woke him up to the state of affairs of water-shortage in China.

"I was born in a place near the Yangtze River where water resources are abundant enough that I never thought many places in western China's regions are lacking water," remembers Chen.

"It was my program 'Power to Go', which launched in 2011, that gave me an insight into the focus on water-shortage in China," added Chen.

"China is one of 13 countries in the world with the worst per capita water shortages," expressed Qin Guoying, vice-president and secretary-general of the CWDF.

The per capita amount of water resources is 7,900 cubic meters worldwide, but the amount is less than 110 cubic meters in China's arid northwestern regions.

Over the past 15 years, sister projects have also been initiated, and a comprehensive development model has taken shape to bring safe drinking water and irrigation to local people.

The event organizers hope that the combination of donation methods and the programs could bring those people involved more freedom to enjoy a better quality of life while immersing them in an environment full of sanitary and sustainable water.

A poster with messages at the ceremony co-hosted by Master Kong and the "Water Cellar for Mothers" project [cwdf.org.cn]

Qin Guoying (L), vice-president and secretary-general of the CWDF, participates in a launch ceremony for the charity project "Water Cellar for Mothers" in northwest China's Gansu Province on August 22, 2012, showing the logo 'Land of Love, Water Cellar for Mothers'. [Xinhua]

Chen Kun launches a special concert for the charity program "Power to Go" in Beijing on March 8, 2013, where Chen initiated his drive for more people to show concern over China's water issue. [Xinhua]

The "Water Drops" donation scheme sponsored by Master Kong is launched across China earlier in 2015 where runners around the world take part in the program to collect “water drops” and make a contribution to alleviating water scarcity in western China. [Weibo]

(Source: chinanews.com/Translated and edited by Women of China)