As a pre-school teacher who was not on her regular 8:50am train to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Gemma Bulos, witnessed a global community united through tragedy. In response, she wrote “We Rise”, a rousing anthem that celebrates water as a metaphor for peace and unity in action. Starting in Spring 2004, this Filipina-American traveled around the world and single-handedly mobilized the unprecedented Million Voice Choir where groups sang “WE RISE” from over 100 cities in over 60 countries on September 21, in celebration of the UN International Day of Peace and Global Cease Fire Day.  This was the single initiative that has helped her to become a living example of ASD's concept; it takes a single drop of water to start a wave, one person to initiate social change. To date, the Million Voice Choir has dissolved the political, religious, social and cultural boundaries by bridging together a variety of groups who would not normally find themselves doing anything together: A prison in WI; a Swedish deaf choir who "sang by signing"; an entire elementary school district in Michigan; typhoon survivors in the Philippines; a youth group in Israel; a cultural group in a refugee camp in the Palestinian Territories; Hurricane Katrina/Rita survivors in the Gulf Coast; a student body of 30,000 in India and so many more.

As she traveled around the world building the Million Voice Choir, she shared the interactive presentation “Water, Music and Unity:  The Pathway to Peace and Global Harmony” exploring the power of water and music in our fundamental human relations, our global interactions and in peacemaking.    Her work as a head teacher at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, mentor for at-risk youth in the South Bronx, and international volunteer work, combined with her work as a performer, has helped her develop a comprehensive and entertaining approach to bridge art and activism to raise awareness of global water issues and inspire action to audiences who would not otherwise be exposed to this information. The diverse audiences where she has presented span the gamut of age, cultures and belief systems; schools (K-12 to University level), interfaith gatherings, prisons, international conferences on peace, conflict resolution, women’s groups, youth summits, environmentalism, wholistic healing, indigenous empowerment and numerous appearances at the United Nations. She designed and piloted a new water and plant science project called “Do Your Words Matter” with 5th grade students who were invited to give a presentation of their results at the United Nations’ World Water Day. The distinguished leaders who have participated in the choir and she has presented alongside range from Archbishop Desmund Tutu, Mrs. Kofi Annan, Dr Jane Goodall, Chief Oren Lyons, Pete Seeger, the Honorable Ela Ghandi,  and many more. In 2005, she received the prestigious CG Vibes Award from Cover Girl and Queen Latifah honoring women who contribute to the community through music.  In 2006, she was honored by the Global Healing Foundation at an event at the UN sponsored by UNICEF on the Global Day for the Rights of A Child for her tireless work with youth around the globe.  In 2007, she was awared the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship for her innovations in creating community based water organizations in the Philippines.

In April 2005, she co-sponsored Bridging the Water Gap International Water Conference in Minneapolis, MN, host to 70 speakers and workshops with over 1000 attendees celebrating the marvels of water though exploration in social and physical sciences, quantum physics and spirituality.   Also in 2005, she volunteered in India after the Tsunami as well as in the Gulf Coast after the Hurricanes.

A trained BioSand Facilitator and certified in Permaculture Design, Gemma’s service has evolved into developing humanitarian projects such as bringing potable water to those in need and assisting in the design of wholistic regenerative communities.  She recently expanded ASDs global action by opening a sister office, A Single Drop For SafeWater, Philippines, in the summer of 2006.  SafeWater for All People Project and Women WaterKeepers Program in the Philippines provides training in the manufacture of BioSand Filters (BSF), Rainwater Harvesting and other simple water technologies. 

Complementing the supply of safe water, Gemma is launching the first country-wide Million Voice Choir as a national campaign youth to engage their participation in the protection and preservation of the Philippines water resources.  Youth around the country will sing "We Rise" and join voice around the world, on September 21, 2007, in celebration of the UN International Day of Peace.

Like water, she continues to flow around the world initiating water projects, organizing technological trainings, speaking at international conferences and all the while uniting peaceful voices through the healing power of music and every living being's shared need for water.