Viddler

Today, in over 175 locations around the world, thousands of people are attending Twestival in support of charity: water.

The History of Twestival

Twestival is a tweetup (Twitter meetup) that supports a cause. In September, 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London, UK, organized and event where the local Twitter community could get together offline; meet face-to-face with people they might have otherwise only connected with online, boogie down on the dance floor, enjoy some drinks, and tie it all together to support a local homeless shelter.

The majority of the event was organized within two weeks using Twitter and the united talents & financial support of the local Twittersphere.

Throughout the world similar stories began to emerge showing local Twitter communities coming together and taking action for an important cause.

Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but working from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact. — Twestival.com

The Charity

As mentioned, the global charity involved with today’s global Twestival is charity: water; a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.

Countless communities in developing nations go without clean water every day. Using sewege and other dirty waters for drinking, food preparation, and other practices spreads diseases and makes these communities very sick.

This is where charity: water and their partner organizations come in. Drilling a well can cost from $4,000 – $12,000 USD, and many living on less than $1 a day cannot afford one in their community, even if the money is combined.

Banding together as a large community to support this charity is an awesome feat! Everyone go to Twestival.com and find your nearest Twestival event to attend. Donating as little as $20 to the cause, getting a drink, munching some food, and hanging out with your local Twitter community is well worth it!

The Video

Here’s the video from the first Twestival in London as documented by Christian (subscribe, follow on Twitter).

If you’re heading to one of the many Twestivals tonight in the UK, Christian has the giddy idea of trying to attending as many of them as he can between Newcastle and London. Rock n’ roll, dude! Read more about this on his blog…

I know many of you will be recording video at the Twestival(s) you choose to attend. Be sure to tag them with twestival2009 and send me a message with a link to the video. I want to get a bunch together and feature them post-Twestival.

Enjoy your Twestival! You made it. Rock on!