Education, innovation and collaboration: ONE DROP and Microsoft share sustainability message

The world’s population has tripled over the last century, while water use has multiplied by seven. In Africa alone, there are 358 million people who don’t have access to water. However, simply providing access to water is not the end game. To achieve long-term sustainability, the first step is collaboration and creativity in order to spark behavioural change.

This is the vision behind the ONE DROP Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NGO) established by Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy Laliberté, in 2007 to bring safe water access and sanitation to communities in need Microsoft is proud to support the foundation as it launches its ONE DROP of Life application.

The launch of the ONE DROP of Life app this week is a great articulation of this approach to problem solving. Working with Microsoft, the ONE DROP Foundation has created the app to convey important educative messages about water issues worldwide. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile gaming to secure an audience, the partnership has identified a creative way to spread a serious message. It appears to be effective, too. Even before the official launch the game had been played by over 100,000 people.

Microsoft’s technological support for the ONE DROP of Life app is motivated by the shared belief with the ONE DROP foundation that empowerment is the key to re-thinking new kinds of sustainable solutions to pressing global challenges. We are empowering ONE DROP through our technology so that they, in turn, can empower the communities where they work through the provision of safe water and sanitation.

In Africa, the ONE DROP foundation has been working to empower communities in Burkina Faso, where less than 56% of the population has access to water. Through a series of programs to address access to water, as well as awareness and microfinance, ONE DROP hopes to reach 125 000 participants by 2017.

Microsoft’s support of ONE DROP is part of our wider belief that technology has a fundamental role in helping create a more sustainable future for everyone. The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important, regardless of who you are, what you do or where you live. Businesses are now operating in a world where consumers want to know about the environmental impact of the products they buy. At Microsoft we are committed to the creation of a sustainable future and are actively working with partners, customers, governments, and leading environmental organisations to bring the power of information technology and cloud computing to address the world's environmental challenges.

To learn more, visit ONEDROP.org

Microsoft Environment https://www.microsoft.com/environment/

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