Social Impact / Global Goals Centre
The importance of campaigning for clean water – and how you can help
It is now week six in the exciting new campaign run by the Global Goals Centre, where a new local hero is being celebrated every week for their work to tackle poverty, inequality and climate change.
Based on the Sustainable Development Goals, week six focuses on campaigning for clean water for all – and this week’s hero is Jon Shepard.
Jon is the head of programmes at Frank Water, an organisation that has provided 425,000 people with access to a safe water supply, a decent toilet and the ability to wash their hands.
is needed now More than ever
He has overseen projects that have helped over 300,000 people access clean water and a decent toilet. He also helped develop a mobile app that can help anyone in the world understand how to assess and manage water.
“Without water, humanity does not exist. So whilst there may be 17 SDGs, if we don’t solve the problems we have around water management, then none of the other SDGs will have any progress,” explains Jon.
“Four billion people on the planet don’t have access to water consistently for 12 months of the year. That can’t be right and we have got a responsibility to help other people.”
How can we help? As global citizens, there are many steps we can carry out to do our bit including:
- Be aware of how much water you use as you go about your day. Use and waste less where possible.
- Sign up your local school to the Water for the World programme – a series of interactive, educational workshops.
- Donate! Every £1 invested in safe water generates a further £4.85 in increased productivity.
- Talk to your friends and family about the issues raised in this article and ask them to take action with you.
- Read about COP26 and find out how you can get involved.
- Write to your MP to ask for 0.7 per cent of the UK’s GDP to be allocated to international development such as water and sanitation.
The Global Goals Centre is an education charity using creative ways to inspire a fairer, greener future, has worked in partnership with 17 local community organisations, Bristol24/7’s Better Bristol and creative agency Tusko, to create this campaign, which is supported by Bristol City Council and the Bristol Climate Hub.
A series of 17 short videos, one for each of the 17 Global Goals. Each one highlights a Bristol hero who is doing something inspiring to help reach that Goal.
To learn more about the campaign and get inspired about how you can contribute to a more sustainable Bristol, visit www.globalgoalscentre.org/bristol-17
Main photo: Global Goals Centre/ Tusko
Read more: Social and environmental heroes celebrated in Bristol 17 campaign
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