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More than a billion people around the world lack access to clean water and sanitation, causing over two million deaths every year. And, in the coming years, factors such as climate change, population growth and increasing urbanisation will only exacerbate the crisis.

Lack of clean water not only severely impacts peoples health; it also suppresses economic growth and negatively impacts education, womens advancement and overall family and community well-being. In many places, water collection [mainly be women and children] takes up many hours of each day that could otherwise be spent earning an income, growing food or going to school. The UN estimates that some 40 billion working hours are lost each year in Africa to carrying water! Also, an unbelievable 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases. Furthermore, many children are forced to quit school to help their families collect water.

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In 1997, recording artist, author and philanthropist Jewel founded Project Clean Water. The non-profit charity foundation is working to improve the quality of life for millions of people by helping to provide clean water on a global scale. The foundation targets villages around the world with clean water problems and works with the communities to find sustainable solutions to provide them with safe drinking water. To date, Project Clean Water has helped more than 30 communities overcome their individual drinking water problems in 13 different countries, on five different continents.

The Voss Foundation is dedicated to providing access to pure, clean drinking water to Sub-Saharan African communities. The Voss Foundation employs a unique approach, which ensures local ownership and long-term sustainability through partnerships with trusted local organizations, use of appropriate technology and through systems that address the multiple water needs of a community. The Voss Foundation’s primary targets are women and children, with special focus on adolescent girls -- an often overlooked and under-serviced demographic that is particularly at risk.