The people of Ahafo, Ghana—in most cases the women—must wake up at 4am to fetch water. Some trek several miles every morning to get just a few gallons, and often, that water is contaminated and unsafe to drink. Aveda’s Earth Month campaign has a decade-long partnership with Global Greengrants Fund. Throughout April, Aveda and their salons are raising money for clean water projects in regions where the company sources their ingredients and supporting Greengrants grantees in their efforts to protect and improve access to one of the world’s most precious resources.
Livelihood & Environment Ghana (LEG), a two-time Greengrants grantee, is undertaking a 5-year restoration project along river banks in the Ahafo region, improving local water quality and easing the burden and risk of collecting water. “Last year, with the support of Global Greengrants Fund, LEG was able to plant 2,000 trees along two local rivers where deforestation and unsustainable farming have compromised water quality,” wrote Richard Adjei-Poku, Executive Director of the organization. Greengrants grantees are using integrated approaches to make a difference in their communities, protecting water at the source so it can run clean and in abundance for generations.
Here are some ways you can make a difference:
- Take Aveda’s Water Footprint Calculator. It’s quick, easy, informative, and every time someone completes the quiz, Aveda will donate $1 to Greengrants to support clean water projects around the world.
- Give the gift of clean water—pick up an Aveda Light the Way candle for yourself or someone you care about, and the entire $12 purchase price goes directly to Greengrants.
- Raise awareness about the 1.1 billion who lack access to safe drinking water. Forward this to your friends, become a Greengrants Facebook fan and re-post our links, and carry your own refillable water bottle (and encourage others to do the same). For more information on global water and sanitation issues, check out this Fact Sheet from the United Nations.
- Find an Earth Day event near you and get involved. April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and it’s a great opportunity to spread the word about they ways grassroots action is protecting our planet.