Acqua for Life

Armani Acqua for Life

Designer: Giorgio Armani

Charitable partner: Green Cross International

Charity name: Acqua for Life

Fragrances: Acqua di Gio and Acqua di Gioia

The need: 800 million people around the world live in water poverty – meaning they don’t have safe, reliable access to clean water.

How it works: Giorgio Armani is returning for the sixth year in a row as the main partner of the UNICEF Tap Project and has committed a minimum $500,000 to support this year’s initiative through the Acqua for Life campaign. He encourages all style and beauty enthusiasts to donate through www.acquaforlife.org

Of the beauty and fragrance charitable initiatives that I’ve covered over the years, Giorgio Armani’s Acqua for Life is one of my favourites. That is because the concept is so simple: provide clean drinking water for those in need in Third World countries.

 

“In the four years of Acqua for Life we have achieved, together with Green Cross International, access to clean water around the globe for several thousand individuals, but unfortunately it still leaves many people without this access. There is still so much to be done, and I look forward to continuing our quest to make safe drinking water available to those who need it.” – Giorgio Armani

Acqua for Life 2015:

The first Acqua for Life initiative in 2015 will take place in the Chubot Province of Patagonia in Argentina. It’s a region stricken with poverty and a harsh climate. Through the funds raised, a 300-metre-deep water well will be built in a community near Gastre to secure the local water supply and irrigate a greenhouse facility growing fruits and vegetables year round. The lack of affordable fruits and vegetables has been a leading cause of nutritional disorders in the region.

The Green Cross will also use Acqua for Life contributions to support new infrastructure developments in Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal), Chine and in Latin America (Boliva and Mexico). What is commendable about this program is that Green Cross carries out concrete, on-the-ground projects to supply deprived communities with secure, safe and sustainable water. The organization provides millions of liters of safe water each year by building wells, rainwater harvesting systems, boreholes and water pumps.

About Green Cross:

GCI is an independent, non-profit and nongovernmental organization founded in 1993 by Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev. It addresses inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation through global advacay and local projects. GCI is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has a network of national organizations in 27 countries.

 

Awareness through the #1DayOn10Litres Challenge:

To help spread the word about the preciousness of clean, safe water, Acqua for Life 2015 is challenging key bloggers and online personalities in different countries – from the worlds of beauty, fashion and beyond – to try to live on just 10 liters of water for one full day.

In most countries, people use an average of 100 liters of water a day – but in some parts of the world, having just 10 liters is a luxury. The challenge is to have the social media community document their experiences and educate their followers about water poverty and the importance of having reliable access to clean water.

 

The hashtags:

#1DayOn10liters

#Helpgivewater

#Acquaforlife