In 2018, funds raised through The New York and LA Coffee Festivals funded 3 Piped System Tap Stands in Rwanda, through our incredible partners charity: water. These tap stands form part of a wider project carried out by charity: water and Water for People which will bring clean water and sanitation to 81,164 people living in the Gicumbi District of Rwanda. Here’s an update on the progress so far.

How we can end the water crisis

The water crisis is solvable. 

We have both the technology and knowledge to develop solutions that will bring clean drinking water to every single person on earth. 

The effects of the water crisis

In coffee-growing communities where the water crisis is most felt, collecting water is a woman’s job. 

Today, women around the world will spend a total of 200 million hours collecting water. Tomorrow it will be another 200 million hours.

Some women and young girls can spend up to 8 hours walking, and waiting in line, for water. Water which is often dirty and unusable.

All of this affects both their health and education.

Why does the water crisis still exist in 2019?

Let’s start with the good news… After decades of research and investment, we have the technology and knowledge to bring clean drinking water to every single person on earth. 

The who, what, where and why of the world’s water crisis

0.014%. 

That’s the percentage of total water on Earth that is fresh, easily accessible, and usable. 

It might not sound like much but, technically, it should be enough for the world’s population to live on. Right now, it isn’t.

We are delighted to announce our partnership with The Coffee Shop Innovation Expo, which will take place from the 25th – 26th of September at ExCel London.

When we visited Uganda in May one of our first stops was with pupils at Rwenthuuha and Kikoda Primary Schools. We discussed the changes that they had seen since new toilet blocks and water tanks had been installed. The students, especially the young girls, were eager to tell us something very important, “I’m not afraid.”

We are proud to announce that one of the projects we have been working on in the Rulindo district of Rwanda has now been completed! We’re so pleased to see that the time and effort invested by our partners, charity: water, will have an incredible impact on the lives of 2,378 people. This project was made possible by the funds raised from The New York Coffee Festival 2015.

The water crisis is one of the most critical issues facing the world today. Bringing clean drinking water into communities is an essential step in breaking the poverty cycle, but creating solutions that last can be challenging without the right local partner. This month we are celebrating the local heroes who work day in and day out to make lasting change possible in their communities.