Imagine access to clean water and sanitation for everyone
In October, 91影视 Chairman and CEO Mike Burke announced our company would be increasing its support to and 聽鈥� two nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of millions of people.
91影视 has a longstanding relationship with these organizations. Combined, my colleagues have donated more than US$1.1 million and volunteered hundreds of hours to help them achieve their missions.
As director of our International Development group鈥檚 Water Services business in the U.S., I鈥檓 familiar with these organizations鈥� important work and leadership in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. I鈥檓 excited about our partnerships because of the incredible value they will bring to the WASH sector in developing countries and what they mean to our promise to deliver a better world.
Water For People
I was first introduced to Water For People in the mid-2000s. The organization had been around for 15 years, building out needed water infrastructure and facilities and working hand-in-hand with communities. It was under the dynamic leadership of Ned Breslin (and now Eleanor Allen) that Water For People reinvented itself as a market-leading, innovative and creative disruptor in the WASH sector.
Through an impact model, Water For People aims to reach all members in the communities in which they work to guarantee sustainable infrastructure. Everyone, Forever focuses on co-investing, capacity building, monitoring, reporting and replication, and has quickly become a standard for sustainable programming. Water For People is an early adopter of new technology (such as Akvo Flow 鈥� a data collection and monitoring tool), bringing real-time monitoring to game-changing WASH interventions.
These programming principles are ones our International Development group is also working to advance. We鈥檙e expanding our services in developing countries and using cutting-edge solutions to provide real-time information and long-term benefits.
Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA)
One of my professional interests is supporting capacity strengthening of WASH institutions. I鈥檓 a firm believer that we can鈥檛 just 鈥渇ix the pipes,鈥� we must enable and empower the institutions responsible for fixing the pipes. EWB-USA focuses on communities first to ensure lasting change.
Studies by the International Water Association point to a tremendous deficit in trained personnel internationally 鈥� there are simply not enough appropriately skilled water professionals to support the attainment of universal access to safe water and sanitation. In Mozambique, for example, double the number of trained professionals is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. At the heart of EWB-USA鈥檚 success is a belief in mentoring local community members, staff and experience exchanges, and embedding expertise to help address capacity gaps.
At 91影视, we have some of the best expertise in our industry. Providing company support to employees who volunteer with organizations such as EWB could greatly impact this skills gap.
I鈥檓 proud that 91影视 has taken a stand to support these organizations. These partnerships will help us achieve our shared vision to improve lives and transform communities. If you wish to contribute, please make a one-time donation through the 91影视 giving sites for and . Or鈥� consider becoming a volunteer yourself!
To learn more about 91影视鈥檚 work with EWB-USA and Water For People, as well as our Corporate Responsibility platform 鈥� Blueprint for a Better World 鈥� visit: aecom.com/about-aecom/corporate-responsibility.
Other articles by this author