Bring Safe Drinking Water to Children in India

With the support of Global Giving, Safe Water Network has raised $7,290 to improve water access and reduce the impact of water-borne diseases in Pochampalli and Katrapalli, two remote villages in India. We install and operate sustainable community water purification systems, namely Safe Water Stations, and promote hand washing to improve health and hygiene indicators.

In all our initiatives in India, we aim to establish access that is equitable and fair, ensuring the Stations will be sustainable over time. We train local operators, educate the community on the safe handling of water, and facilitate funding to advance local ownership, so that the community is fully invested in their success.

Update: Merck Fellows have officially joined Safe Water Network for a three-month in-the-field engagement as part of our three-year India initiative announced earlier this year.

Safe Water Network's partnership with Merck includes adding a dozen sites to existing field projects in Andhra Pradesh, India, where Safe Water Network already provides nearly 50,000 people access to clean water. The additional systems will make safe water access available to another 20,000 - 30,000 people. The joint initiative will draw on Merck's consumer marketing, operational and health expertise to establish a fact-based approach to improving demand generation programs. The objective is to accelerate adoption rates and increase daily customer counts and household consumption levels by improving awareness of the importance of clean water and hygiene. We will test and refine messaging to optimize communication. Merck Fellows play an essential role in these efforts. 

The Merck Fellowship program provides Merck employees the opportunity to utilize their expertise and make an impact at the local level. It is also an important career development opportunity, providing valuable experience for the participants.