So it is the weekend and everyone has decided to go out raving. The excitement is in the air as people gather outside of the club in an orderly line. After paying, entering the loud atmosphere, with music, heat and bodies; twisting and turning to the rhythmic and melodic tunes. Everyone goes to the bar and expects to find not only alcohol but water, pre-bottled for our refreshment.

One of the things that clubber’s take for granted is having access to water; whether it is free from the toilet tap or bottled from the bar. With most people sweating their nights away and refuelling whenever the need arises, should we spare a thought to the people in this world who are not so fortunate?

Some people have to walk miles whenever they need water, due to the lack of provision in their village. They have to fill up large containers, which then have to be carried miles back to their home. This arduous task is excruciating for anyone, especially in those countries where the temperature is constantly hot. Certain people have no access to clean water; have to use rivers, lakes, and streams to enable them to have access to life’s most essential product. These two different aspects of life are about to become connected through the vision of Emma Jones, founder of DJ aid.

It’s a bitterly cold Thursday evening, outside the trendy AKA bar, in central London. Through the guest list; an inspection of my bag then ushered inside into a medium sized, dim lit bar with elegant décor. Tonight is the launch night for a new charity based organisation called DJ Aid, which aims to raise money by throwing parties, in order to raise money for water projects in various parts of the world. Many people, who attend parties and raves, generally tend to drink without thinking about what life would be like without access to clean water. So if people can still enjoy their night life whilst contributing to global issues that has to be of an immense benefit for everyone involved. Emma Jones, the founder of the project seems rather nervous, maybe it is due to the low turn out so far, or it could be that I am a training journalist who has come to report on her night. Emma sits down with me only after she grabs herself a drink.

So the idea for the project came whilst Emma was working with UNICEF, out in Asia conducting field work. She worked mostly in education, water, malaria and HIV/Aids projects, which had a profound effect upon her out look on life. Emma felt aggrieved by the fact that: “When people don’t have access to water, they can not live”. She wanted to combine her passion for dance music and going to parties, Emma felt the need to bring the two concepts together. Emma saw that: “There is no charity that works with electronic music” and furthermore “young people care about global issues”. Her main aim is to bring together different communities, not only the music sector but public, private and commercial sectors who will contribute to the cause.

The money that would be raised will support the work of Water Aid; a charity that: “works in 17 counties providing water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest people” (quoted from Water Aid website).

The DJ Aid project has only been in existence for three months and felt the need to address the water shortage issue. She also wanted to dispel the idea that people who go to clubs are just a bunch of wasters, as “were good people who want to promote new music”. The atmosphere is still pretty dead in the club at the moment but hopefully more people will attend shortly.

The night steadily starts to build with more people entering. There is an intriguing backdrop of visuals, on a giant projector screen which provides some wonderfully intriguing graphics and art. I am introduced to Matthew W. the music director for the DJ Aid project. A slightly reserved man, who is responsible for booking the DJ’s, forming the music policy for the parties and acting as the link within the industry. Matthew has been clubbing for over 17 years, apparently every weekend and met Emma whilst attending a night called Secret Sunday’s. Matthew felt that as long as the night could “raise as much funding for the charity as possible and people had fun” then the night would have been a success. The feedback from friends, the media and the music industry had been “absolutely amazing”.

DJ Aid is supporting an international charity called Water Aid; which aims to “help one million people a year gain access to a lasting supply of water and also to benefit from access to safe sanitation by 2010”. Adeline Moe, corporate fundraising assistant at Water Aid confirmed that: “DJ Aid is an independent initiative that supports Water Aid through music events”.  Water Aid is a non government organization who works specifically in water, sanitation and hygiene around the world. Water Aid has been working in those areas since 1981, and has become respected internationally for their extensive work. “Water Aid enables the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. These basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods and form the first, essential step in overcoming poverty.” So the impact of the work that DJ Aid is doing would definitely go to some good use.

Most people are sitting around talking, real comfortable vibe, almost like a massive social gathering. Along come DJ Barnaby and Simon Kurrage, a duo who were taking up the decks from ten until midnight. Barnaby is a friend of Emma’s and felt that he had to get involved with this night especially as it was such a “good cause and I love doing charity work”. Barnaby has been spinning records in clubs for the past 15 years and his work has taken him all over Europe. His main plug for people to attend the nights was to: “Come out and have a good time, doing some good in the world at the same time”. Sound advice, his partner on the decks Simon had also been playing for 15 years; had played “all over the place, India, Africa, and USA”. Simon’s main reason for endorsing this project was to “put a bit back, which not enough industry people do”. Simon hopes for the nights to expand to the point when a separate room could be used to promote world music, with contributions coming from the counties which will receive the aid. The last words from Simon were for people to: “Expand your awareness, meet some nice people and go out for a good cause”.

After the men enter the DJ booth, they start to mix some deep underground electro music with ‘dirty’ base lines and ‘itchy’ snares. People start to gravitate towards the dance floor. The place really starts to build and the atmosphere is almost electric. Greg, Emma’s other half, who also applies the strategy for the events, speaks to me next. Greg felt that the night had been a success, describing the people moving away on the dance floor, the steady flow of people by the bar and the pumping vibes that were being enjoyed by everyone. Greg felt that: “It is not easy putting on a night, especially on a Thursday evening”. He put the success down to inviting everyone that they knew and allowing the industry to feel part of the event as well.

Emma has a 10 year plan in place; hoping to put on a few more club nights which would build up a following of people to support a couple of festivals. First she aims to expand the club nights to the other major cities around the UK. After the festivals, she hopes to become global and take advantage of the whole clubbing island markets. The night is finally in full swing, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Emma’s nerves have now calmed down, she is positively beaming, even gets me a drink at the bar. Emma tells me that the way to contribute would be to: “Support the nights, donate in the collection boxes, use the link on the website and sponsor the events”. So the night has been a success; everyone is standing or dancing and a photographer is busy snapping away.