Technology for Change: charity: water
As we at Singlebrook began the process of launching our new “Technology for Change” campaign, we sought out companies that seemed to best illustrate our focus on using technology in innovative ways to generate social and environmental improvements. Among the organizations we have chosen to spotlight is charity: water, a non-profit group focused on bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
charity: water first caught our attention last fall, with its 2010 September Campaign Live Drill video filmed in the Central Africa Republic village of Moale, and posted on Facebook and YouTube. What impressed us most was not the organization’s success in obtaining clean water, but rather their transparency and authenticity in failing to do so. The adverse situation also elucidated the group members’ dedication and their emotional investment in the cause. Founder Scott Harrison recounted the story on the day of the failed drilling for the charity: water blog:
It was going to be an amazing story, and charity: water’s 200th completed project in the country. The people of Moale had been waiting for water for more than a decade. After two failed attempts to reach clean water many years ago, our local partner ICDI brought in a new drilling rig that could dig up to 700 feet. Unfortunately, they never made it that far. In what was by far the most challenging drill we’ve ever witnessed, the team came up short after 30 straight hours when the second borehole caved in.
It was a heartbreaking and messy day. We’d hoped to show you footage of a joyful village celebrating a successful drill, but we didn’t achieve that today. We’re committed to transparency at charity: water, so instead, our Live Drill video will show you the reality and challenges we face on the ground.
Tomorrow, we’ll start drilling in another nearby Bayaka village. We haven’t given up on Moale. For now, the people there will have to wait a little bit longer for their well — but we will be back. In the meantime, with your help, we can provide clean and safe drinking water for every Bayaka through this year’s September Campaign.
charity: water triumphed and soon proved fruitful in drilling more clean water wells. On Live Drill Day 2, the team and local community were delighted to hit “a massive aquifer” in the village of Jerusalem. charity: water went on to fund over 200 more water projects during their September Campaign, spreading smiles and clean water throughout the Central African Republic. Social media allowed charity: water to reveal an unparalleled level of transparency about their failures as well as their successes. In the process, the organization developed a much closer relationship with their base of supporters and was able to rally more funds for their cause. The honesty, determination, and altruism of the charity: water team distinguish the organization as a true harbinger of technology spurring positive social and environmental changes in the world.
Please continue to follow Singlebrook's Technology for Change (T4C) campaign here on our blog, and also on Twitter under #SinglebrookT4C. We encourage you to use this hashtag to share any instances of T4C you've discovered as well!
