Did you know that more than 780 million people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water? In Canada alone, there are more than 100 indigenous communities in the same life-threatening situation.
Here is a listing of the top Canadian water charities trying to make a difference in the lives of these communities. Click on each one to learn more.
At Watersmart, we support the efforts of organizations around the world, each working to get clean drinking water to everyone.
Top Canadian Water Charities
1. WATER FOR PEOPLE-CANADA / DE LEAU POUR TOUS-CANADA
Image Source: Water for People Canada
About This Charity: Water For People Canada is a charitable, nonprofit, international humanitarian organization dedicated to the development and delivery of clean, safe water and sanitation solutions in developing nations including:
Bolivia
Honduras
Guatemala
Malawi
Vietnam
Peru
It is the Canadian equivalent of the U.S.-based charity, Water For People. It was established in 1995, to support and promote the mission of Water For People in Canada among the public and the water community.
Vision: “A world where every person has access to reliable and safe water and sanitation services.”
Mission: “Water For People exists to promote the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments.”
Image Source: Lifewater Canada
About This Charity: Lifewater Canada was started in 1995 by Jim Gehrelsa and a group of volunteers who believed that being a Christian meant more than just going to church on Sunday.
They are a volunteer-based charity inspired by Jesus that exists because every 20 seconds, someone in the world dies from drinking unsafe water. Their volunteers train African and Haitian teams to drill wells and complete other water projects.
Vision: "Our vision is a world where the place you are born does not determine whether you live or die. Together we can get there, one drop at a time!"
Mission: "In response to this need, our mission is to provide safe drinking water and improve hygiene in Africa (Liberia, Nigeria, Kenya) and Haiti."
Image Source: Ryan’s Well Foundation
About This Charity: Ryan's Well Foundation came about because of the passion of a grade one student, Ryan Hreljac, who wanted to make a difference when he heard about the dire consequences of many people around the world who don't have safe water to drink.
It provides effective and sustainable water solutions for the poorest parts of the world's developing countries. For more than 20 years, volunteers for Ryan's Well, have been providing access to safe water and sanitation to the developing world as well as education on the importance of safe water and sanitation.
Vision: "Build a more equitable world through clean water and sanitation, leaving each community we work with empowered and self-sufficient."
Mission: "Ryan’s Well Foundation, together with local partners, provides access to clean Water, Sanitation services, and Hygiene education to people most in need of WASH support. We educate and motivate people to share our passion and contribute to achieving positive change in the world."
4. H2O 4 ALL
Image Source: H2O 4 All
About This Charity: Timothy Muttoo and Odile Bartlett began H2O 4 All in 2008. Their focus is on bringing clean water and sanitation to developing areas in the global community. They connect with locals so that once their projects are completed, these locals will have the education that will help them for years to come.
Their work is based on 3 pillars:
Engagement and partnering with local community leaders to establish strong relationships
Work to develop innovative tools, state-or-the-art and affordable, appropriate technology
Sustainable solutions to the water crisis that work long term
Their dream is a world where everyone has safe water.
Vision: "Safe water for all"
Mission: "To provide safe water by identifying, developing, and implementing sustainable projects through local engagement, collaboration, mutual education, creative design, and appropriate technology."
5. FogQuest
Image Source: FogQuest
About This Charity: FogQuest is a non-profit, registered Canadian charity that uses innovative fog collectors and rainfall collectors as an effective way of using natural atmospheric sources of water.
This is a unique solution for getting clean water for people in developing countries where conventional sources such as wells, rivers, and pipelines are not available. FogQuest is a small, all-volunteer organization that spends at least 90% of donations received directly on fog-water projects.
Mission: "To implement and promote the environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable use of fog, rain and dew as sustainable water resources for people in arid regions of developing countries."
Image Source: CWH Foundation
About This Charity: CWH stands for clean water for Haiti. CWH Foundation uses a biosand filter program and technician training classes to provide access to clean water to communities throughout the country of Haiti. This type of filtration system works effectively for the special challenges, culture, and available resources found in Haiti.
CWH uses a subsidized model instead of a free giveaway because they have learned that things with value are used and taken better care of. They also produce their filters in Haiti to provide full-time employment and skill traiing for the local community.
Vision: "We believe in development, and we believe that the greatest impact in Haiti will be made when we work with that in mind. Everything we do aims to empower Haitians to care for their own families."
Mission: Empowering. Improving. Sustaining.
Image source: One Drop Foundation
About This Charity: One Drop is the brainchild of Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil. They use social art as a tool to foster behaviour change and build a profound sense of involvement, ownership, and empowerment in the communities they work with.
Their approach "enphasizes participation and implementing action plans that are adapted to target groups, influencers, desired behaviours and local contexts."
Vision: "We envision a better world, where all have access to living conditions that allow empowerment and development."
Mission: "Together, we aim to ensure sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for communities all around the world through innovative partnerships, creativity and the power of art."
