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“I am honored by Starbucks recognition of our work,” says Nancy Aossey, IMC’s President and CEO. “Their generous grant will strengthen IMC's ability to address the lack of clean water and proper sanitation for tens of thousands of people in Kenya.”
The money will be used to implement a comprehensive water and sanitation program benefiting 45,000 people throughout the Samburu District of central Kenya. Located in a remote, arid region of the country about 200 miles from the capital, Nairobi, the project will increase access to clean water, establish Village Water Committees to manage and rehabilitate wells and other water points, and provide community water, sanitation and hygiene awareness campaigns for households and schools. In addition, more than two thousand latrines will be built for schools and families.
“By purchasing Ethos™ water, Starbucks customers have been part of this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and their communities around the world who need access to clean water,” said Jim Donald, Starbucks President and CEO. “Starbucks hopes to help raise awareness and be a significant collaborator in support of solutions to help alleviate the world water crisis.”
Samburu suffers from uneven precipitation across the district during the four months of rainy season. Women frequently must travel at least three miles, and often far longer, to gather water. The people of Samburu are nomadic pastoralists, dependent on livestock and access to water for their livelihoods. Failure to obtain sufficient water for grazing livestock can mean the difference between life and death.
Worldwide, more than one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations. Thousands of children die each day as a result of unclean water and poor sanitation. As part of its comprehensive approach to health care, IMC seeks to control the spread of waterborne diseases among vulnerable communities through a variety of water and sanitation projects. By renovating aging systems, constructing pipelines where none existed, and purifying polluted water sources, IMC works to stop the spread of illnesses such as typhoid, cholera, and diarrhea, to which children are especially susceptible.
International Medical Corps
Since its inception in 1984, IMC’s mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance.
Ethos Water
Ethos water, part of Starbucks Corporation brand portfolio, is the natural spring water that helps children around the world get clean water. The Company was founded in March 2002 and acquired by Starbucks in April 2005. For each bottle of Ethos™ water purchased in Starbucks U.S. Company-operated stores, US$0.05 and CDN$0.10, is contributed to the Ethos Water Fund of The Starbucks Foundation. These funds are contributed to non-profit organizations that are helping to alleviate the world water crisis.
Starbucks Foundation
Starbucks Foundation has maintained a focus on improving young peoples’ lives by supporting literacy programs for children and families. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $12 million to more than 700 youth focused organizations in the United States and Canada.
