The Multi-Year Partnership Has Provided More Than 800,000 People in the Developing World with Clean Water
Stella Artois and Water.org called for international business leaders, corporations, media and consumers to join the mission to help end the global water crisis at the World Economic Forum. Stella Artois reaffirmed its commitment to this effort with a multi-year extension of the “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign with Water.org, co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White. Through this partnership, they aim to help provide 3.5 million people with long-term, sustainable access to clean water by 2020.
“We believe that water has the power to unlock the potential of communities around the world,” said Ricardo Tadeu, Zone President Africa, AB InBev. “That’s why Stella Artois is passionate about and committed to helping Water.org end the global water crisis, but we can’t do it alone. We’re calling on consumers and business leaders to join us and take action in helping to end the global water crisis.”
One in 10 people in the developing world lacks access to safe water. This problem disproportionately affects women and children, who spend hours a day collecting water instead of working, caring for family or attending school.
“I have four daughters and it is tough to imagine them having to walk for hours every day to get clean water, as so many women around the world do,” said Matt Damon, Co-founder of Water.org. “We want to put an end to these journeys. Through our partnership with Stella Artois and the campaign launch at the World Economic Forum, we’re inviting consumers around the world to help us do this.”
The partnership between Stella Artois and Water.org contributes to The World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Water Initiative. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6, which aims to ensure access to safe and affordable water for all by 2030.
“It is unnecessary and unacceptable that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease,” said Gary White, CEO and Co-founder of Water.org. “We need partners and committed resources — both human and capital — to help end the global water crisis.”
Since the initial launch of the “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign two years ago, Stella Artois has helped Water.org provide more than 800,000 people in the developing world with access to five years of clean water, through the sale of more than 225,000 Limited-Edition Chalices and by directly donating more than $3 million to Water.org.
Stella Artois and Water.org are premiering a digital short film at the Davos meetings that features Elizabeth, a young mother from North Kapuonja, Kenya, who gained access to clean water through a new community programme implemented by Water.org and its local partner KWAHO.
The reach and scale of the campaign will be greatly expanded through the increased investments and addition of new countries participating in the programme (such as Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Uruguay), as well as new consumer touch points — including brick-and-mortar retail outlets, and bars and restaurants, where consumers are already interacting with the Stella Artois brand.
Consumers can get involved and help end the global water crisis by purchasing new Limited-Edition Stella Artois Chalices. For every Chalice sold, Stella Artois will help Water.org provide five years of clean water for one person in the developing world. To date, more than 225,000 Limited-Edition Chalices have been sold through the “Buy a Lady a Drink” programme.
This year’s Chalices feature unique designs by three influential artists — Lisa Mam from Cambodia, Fernando Chamerelli from Brazil and Eria Nsubuga from Uganda — representing the countries where Water.org provides support.
The campaign also introduces two additional donation mechanisms for 2017. For every six- or 12-bottle pack of Stella Artois sold in select retail stores (in the US and UK), Stella Artois will help Water.org provide six or 12 months of clean water for one person in the developing world. For every pint or bottle of beer sold in select bars and restaurants (in the US and UK), Stella Artois will help Water.org provide one month of clean water for one person in the developing world.
