Creative Movements of Hope for the Global Water Crisis

Sep 7th 2009
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According to the World Health Organization, more than 3.5 million people die every year from water-related diseases. Nearly a billion of our world’s population are without safe water. 84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0-14. The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. (Stats taken from Water.org)

Although these stats are overwhelming, some are taking practical steps to bring sustainable, life-giving relief to the world. I’ve come across some of the following videos of individuals and organizations making a real difference for those who lack access to safe water:

LifeStraw by Vestergaard Frandsen
- Vestergaard Frandsen is a European-based international company specializing in complex emergency response and disease control products. It is guided by a unique Humanitarian Entrepreneurship business model, whose “profit for a purpose” approach has turned humanitarian responsibility into its core business.
- They have created LifeStraw, a portable water filter for prevention of common diarrhoeal disease; it can be carried around for easy access to safe and clean drinking water. Also, they’ve created a water purifier for families with a high flow rate, efficacy as per US EPA standards and longevity of more than 18,000 litres
Michael Pritchard’s Lifesaver Filter
- Engineer Michael Pritchard has invented the portable Lifesaver filter, which can make the most revolting water drinkable in seconds. This video was filmed recently during a TED gathering in London where he demonstrated his new invention.
charity: water
- Scott Harrison and the team at charity: water continue to provide tangible means through which people may participate in bringing clean and safe water to the world. Check out the video below that celebrates the first 3 years of this amazing organization along with what we can do to continue the good work.
World Vision
- World Vision continues to be a leader in providing clean water and sanitation to developing countries around the world. I continue to be thoroughly impressed by how holistic their efforts are. They don’t just focus on water but also on interwoven issues including education, gender rights and roles, farming, tribal governance, community ownership, etc.

Please take a few moments to be inspired and informed by the following videos! I look forward to hearing your thoughts about what you experience in the next few minutes.