The Quest for Clean Water

A filter seller embodies the spirit that VillageForward conveys. His local business, part of a worldwide movement, aids water relief in his community.

A young boy stands near a VillageForward issued water filter. Because of this clean water, his life expectancy has risen exponentially.

2.5 million people die a year from a water related disease.

90% of those are children 5 years old or younger.

As an American, I understand I take many things for granted. I have a solid education, a home, a loving family, etc. I also have clean water to drink. America has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. Other countries aren’t so lucky.

Village Forward is an organization whose goal is to bring clean water to those who need it most through ways of social entrepreneurship. In countries like India and Nepal, Village Forward has established families or small businesses are creators of basic water filtration canisters made from clay. They key to these canisters is the silver-infused disk because silver never loses it’s water filtrating properties. Essentially, these devices work similarly to Brita filters. You pour in bad water, that water seeps through this disk that extracts and traps harmful happenings, and clean water is then available to dispense in drink, all within an hour. Social entrepreneurship, Village Forward believes, is the best way to create these canisters because it not only encourages community involvement in a majorly important task, but it also fuels small businesses, which is very important to economy.

I first heard of this charity as Rotary Club Meeting in my hometown that I had been invited to attend. It originated a few towns over and I remember thinking how very cool it was that something so big and awesome could begin in a small Massachusetts town. A few weeks later I was running my annual Volley for Charity doubles tournament in my town when participants pay to play and at the end of the day, the pot is donated to the winner’s charity of choice. This year the winners were undecided about where to donate the $550 to, so I suggested Village Forward.

This is an organization worth more than a passing glance. They strive to make this world a better place, one clean drop of water at a time.

>>> www.villageforward.com

"Catch a fish for a man and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for life."