Global Sustainable Partnerships Inc. to assist 18 villages in Meru district

Washington, D.C.—A newly announced grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to Global Sustainable Partnerships Inc. (GSP) will allow the expansion of GSP’s “Water is the Lifeline of Life” project to provide access to clean and safe drinking water and promote positive behavior change through water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education in 18 villages in Meru, Tanzania

 

Approximately 100,000 people will benefit from the 9-month project, which launches in July 2014.”Our motto is ‘When We Partner… Miracles Happen’ and because of the goodwill of Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, our ‘Miracles’ will continue to happen,” said GSP Founder and President, Kimberly Fogg in making today’s announcement.

 

“The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is pleased to continue its ongoing philanthropic initiatives in Tanzania. From pediatric HIV care, to support of grandmothers who are now raising their grandchildren and our recent commitments on cervical cancer through the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon campaign, we are now pleased to extend our efforts in partnership with Global Sustainable Partnerships on the installation of filtration systems for clean water in a number of schools and health clinics,” said John Damonti, President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.GSP will install 400 Hydraid® BioSand Filters (BSF) (manufactured by Triple Quest)— simple, lightweight units with no moving parts. Powered by gravity and with no parts to replace, users can reduce biological contaminants by pouring surface or ground water through the filter to obtain water that is safe for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene and sanitation. 

 

At the same time, award-winning WASH education materials developed by the Project WET Foundation will be used to train teachers, students, women and key community leaders to build local capacity, ensure sustainability and encourage healthy habits that reduce waterborne illness.Positively impacted populations within Tanzania include not only children, youth and families but also elderly people, people with disabilities and people living with HIV. The new project builds on three years of work by GSP to install BSF in schools, orphanages and a community center, reaching some 33,000 children and teachers.

 

 

Tanzanian Ambassador to the United States Liberata Mulamula wrote a letter of support for the project, which she called “a wonderful opportunity to save lives.”
About Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP): Global Sustainable Partnerships, Inc. was founded by Kimberly L. Fogg and co-founded by Mary Barth, who is from Tanzania. GSP is a 501(c)(3) certified by the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST). The organization transfers knowledge and skills through training and education in the construction and maintenance of the Hydraid® BioSand filter and the overall education of health, sanitation and hygiene practices for children in primary and secondary schools and their families in developing countries. To learn more, please visit www.gspartnerships.org.

 

Please support our “Message in a Bottle” campaign! Your donation provides BPA-Free and environmentally friendly water bottles to Tanzanian students (Buy 1, give 1 (or more), including a personal message from you! Click Here

About the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation: The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is to promote health equity and improve the health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected by serious diseases and health conditions. The Foundation accomplishes this by strengthening community-based health care worker capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing communities in the fight against disease. For more information about the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, please visit www.bms.com/foundation.
About the Project WET Foundation: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation has been dedicated to reaching children, parents, teachers and community members with action-oriented water education to enable every child to understand and value water, ensuring a sustainable future. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Project WET (“WET” stands for “Water Education for Teachers”) is active in all 50 U.S. states and more than 65 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.

Contact: Kimberly L. Fogg | Founder | Global Sustainable Partnerships | 404-909-2428