My Nonprofit Reviews

Who doesn't want to save someone's life? That was a question I asked myself several years ago when I was questioning the impact I could potentially have on the world if only I could channel my available resources in the right direction. But there are literally thousands of nonprofits in the world that do very good things for people and I didn't know where to begin my search. Then I thought of my father's advice to me whenever I asked him what I should do in a particular situation: "It doesn't mater so much what you do, but just that you do something".

It was then that I heard about Friendly Water for the World through a friend and decided to "do something". After learning about the amazingly simple yet life changing technologies that they promote throughout India and Africa to help communities access clean water and improve hygiene, I decided that this was an organization I could share my resources with that would put them to use directly saving people's lives. The more I work with this organization and with the people they serve the more I know that I made the right decision.

Their concept is simple. Rather than give people things that get used up, worn out or broken, give them knowledge that can save lives, prevent disease, provide an income and build community. Friendly Water For The World provides training, education and start up materials to communities in desperate need of clean water and improved sanitation to build healthy families and strong communities with hope for the future. It is truly an honor and a pleasure to work with and learn from this small yet far-reaching organization.

I cannot praise this organization enough for the amazing work they do to save the lives of the most marginalized people on the planet. Friendly Water For The World uses donor funds judiciously and efficiently to provide the knowledge, tools and support that people need to produce biosand water filters to clean their drinking water and eliminate water-borne diseases. Through rainwater catchment systems they are also ending the long walk to water for so many. I am proud to be associated with this group that epitomizes the term “effective altruism”.

I am truly in awe of the great work that this small group of dedicated people does to get clean water to people who need it for their daily survival. Friendly Water For The World has developed an effective method of sharing the bio-sand water filter technology with people in developing countries who lack access to clean water. By teaching communities how to manufacture the simple concrete filter and the importance of good sanitation and hygiene, they are giving people the tools they need to stop deadly water-borne diseases quickly and to save lives. Not only are they dramatically improving the physical health of entire communities where these filters are in use but they are also teaching people how to build businesses around the sale of clean water and the sale of the water filters. I have seen few other organizations do so much with so little.