International water development charity Just a Drop celebrates completing its 200th project at World Travel Market 2016, where the charity was launched 18 years ago.
The 200th project, located in Makueni County, Kenya, has brought clean safe water, sanitation and hygiene training to over 13,000 people.
The charity’s 200th project featured the construction of a sand dam, water abstraction shallow well, rock catchment, school water tanks, and hygiene training; together with the establishment of a tree nursery, farm terracing and seed bank. This project has not only enabled the community of 13,000 people to gain access to clean water, it has supported them in creating a better future for themselves by growing crops and trading seeds, helping them to generate an income which will lift them out of poverty.
WTM 2016 will see the return of Just a Drop’s successful ‘This Bottle is a Lifesaver’ fundraising initiative, due to last year’s success. Reusable water bottles will be available for a £5 donation from the Just a Drop stand, located at N6/S6 on the Main Boulevard, with free water refills available from various ‘water stations’ located around the fair. Confirmed water stations this year include Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, Air Europa, and Affordable Car Hire.
Charity fundraiser and ‘Marathon Man’ Chevy Kelly, MD of deckchair.com, will be raising funds for Just a Drop by running a marathon a day for the duration of WTM – that’s three marathons in three days – on a treadmill at the charity’s stand. All proceeds raised by these fundraising initiatives will enable Just a Drop to provide much needed safe water and sanitation solutions for communities in need.
Fiona Jeffery OBE, Founder and Chairman of Just a Drop said:
“It’s hard to believe Just a Drop started 18 years ago with its corporate partnership with World Travel Market. In that time, we’ve successfully provided clean water, sanitation and hygiene education to over 1.3million people in over 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America. Since launching the charity in 1998, our focus has been on the sustainability of our projects, and community development; ensuring that thanks to the investment of our funding partners a long term legacy is created which empowers communities to lead healthier, safer and more productive lives. Our 200th project in Makueni County Kenya, is an outstanding example of not only community water provision, but has also led to the growing of drought resistant crops and subsequent market trading ensuring a securer future for over 13,000 people.”
Chevy Kelly, MD of Deckhair.com, fundraising for Just a Drop by running marathons at WTM, said:
“I discovered that Just a Drop has a long history of bridging the gap between the tourism industry and people in desperate need in the developing world, and this hit a nerve. I am in awe of what they have achieved as an organisation to help communities survive and thrive. When I realised that £1 can literally save a child’s life I thought that if three marathons in three days at WTM could capture people’s imaginations, it’s a very little sacrifice to potentially save thousands of lives, through fundraising.”
Just a Drop was founded at WTM in 1998 by Fiona Jeffery OBE, former Chairman of WTM, as a way of encouraging the travel industry to give back to communities around the world. Fiona chose the cause because water is the most basic of human needs, and she felt that if everyone was encouraged to give a little, then collectively a huge difference could be made.
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