The tsunami which devastated parts of Asia on December 26th, 2004, left a wake of tragedy in its midst: 150,000 or more killed, half of them children, tens of thousands still missing, billions of dollars of damaged property and infrastructure, the nationals of 12 countries affected. Easily one of the worst natural disasters of the last one hundred years, and perhaps ever. An outpouring of aid from all quarters--governments, aid agencies, individuals around the world, musicians and artists--will help to address the immediate needs of survivors, but the longer-term rebuilding may take months, years, or even decades.

A wave of a different kind, though equally destructive and long-term in its effects, is engulfing the youth of the world and threatening to destroy them by the millions. This wave consists of poverty, malnutrition, lack of healthcare and education. Education has been pinpointed as the key to ensuring not only a better overall quality of life, but to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, improving health, ameliorating crushing poverty, and increasing food security. In UNICEF's "State of the World's Children 2005", the report concludes: "if we fail to secure childhood, we will fail in our larger global goals of human rights and economic development. As children go, so go nations". It is estimated that half of the world's children--1 billion--suffer from extreme deprivation, and there are 15 million HIV/AIDS orphans alone.

Given the gravity of the "waves" which are engulfing children, One World Beat has created two campaigns: "Give A Child A Chance" will focus on raising funds for the education of HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda and children in extreme poverty in Haiti. Support will go to Liberation Through Education and Outside the Dream Foundation.

"Beat the Wave" will donate funds raised from events and gigs to Save the Children, a leading humanitarian and relief nonprofit working in 40 countries. Save the Children has mobilized a huge Asian tsunami relief effort, focusing not only on meeting immediate needs and protection of children from trauma and child-trafficking, but on longer-term supports such as education and capacity-building for families and communities.

With these projects we aim to help secure the childhood of some of the world's most underprivileged children, thereby working to ensure that they reach adulthood. We hope that you will join us, as we Beat the Wave and Give A Child A Chance as one!