Support hand-pumped wells for Africa

 In time for Word Water Day, 22 March, Sodastream has teamed up with The Water Project, a global non-profit organisation, in the One to One initiative to provide continued support to people affected by a lack of clean drinking water in Africa. Sodastream is South Africa’s leading home-carbonation system.

The World Water Project aims to provide clean and safe drinking water to developing communities across the world by putting up water wells in those societies. The Water Project, in conjunction with Sodastream, has built hand-pumped, safe water wells at primary and secondary schools in Western Kenya, which will benefit 400 school children. The project is based in Kenya, but will also affect other developing communities across the world.

The One to One project is a global SodaStream effort whereby $1 (R6.92) for each home soda maker sold will be donated towards building of water wells in Kenya. The donation from each soda maker sold will help supply one person in Kenya with clean drinking water for at least one year.

Carbonators help provide clean water

Running on the back of this innovative project, Sodastream has created the campaign, ‘Help free the world from bottles”, which includes a new Sodastream machine and syrup range. Proceeds from the sales of this range will be donated to The Water Project. Global citizens are helping to make a difference by buying a machine, which means that Sodastream can give one person clean water for an entire year.

‘As a company committed to improving the environment and living conditions through the use of fresh tap water, we are honoured to participate in such an important project,” says Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of SodaStream. ‘Water is the source of life and sustenance on many levels, and we were impressed by how The Water Project organisation found a creative and successful way to address the urgent problems of water scarcity throughout Africa.”

SodaStream is working in cooperation with The Water Project to build hand-pumped, safe water wells at primary and secondary schools in Western Kenya. Each new freshwater well directly benefits an average of 200 to 400 students, as well as the surrounding community. When properly maintained, these wells can last up to a decade or more.

‘SodaStream’s offer to help these schoolchildren and their villages will literally change lives,” says Peter Chasse, President and Founder of The Water Project. ‘We appreciate the generosity and enthusiasm that SodaStream has exhibited and hope that they set an example for others to follow.”

No clean water = disease, poverty, hopelessness

Nearly 1 billion people don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. Disease, poverty and a loss of hope can be traced back to the lack of clean water. Worldwide, one in four children who die before age five dies of a water-related illness. Children often walk miles every day to collect dirty rainwater to drink.

Clean water changes lives by improving health. When students aren’t sick, education improves. When water is nearby and safe, productive businesses can thrive.  Fields are watered and food supply becomes more reliable. Children grow up to be productive members of their community, breaking the cycle of poverty.
All SodaStream soda makers come with reusable bottles that last up to 3 years, offering a ‘green” alternative to the pollution and waste caused by the manufacture, transportation and disposal of billions of plastic bottles and aluminium soda cans each year.

Saving water and waste

Soda makers offer a highly differentiated and innovative solution to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Our products are environmentally friendly, cost effective, promote health and wellness, and are customisable and fun to use. In addition, our products offer convenience by eliminating the need to carry bottles home from the supermarket, to store bottles at home or to regularly dispose of empty bottles.

SodaStream are offering one Green Times reader a free home carbonator! If you’re keen to receive one, please answer the following questions and send your answers to roline.bosch@ogilvy.co.za and hope you’re the first to get them all right:

1.    What happens to people who don’t have access to clean drinking water?
2.    How many people don’t have access to clean drinking water?
3.    How many children die of water related illnesses before the age of 5?
4.    How can clean drinking water improve people’s lives?
5.    What are you going to do about this?
6.    Name 2 consequences of a lack of access to clean drinking water products can be proud that they are actively contributing to the preservation of the planet.

For more information or to donate to The Water Project please visit www.SodaStream.com/waterproject and www.thewaterproject.org.

To find out where your nearest SodaStream retailer is, contact 012 345-9220.