…Rehabilitation of 50 hand pumps provides safe drinking water to 30,000 villagers
As part of the Bacardi ‘Spirit for Life, Caring Together’ annual Corporate Responsibility Month community service volunteer program, Bacardi partnered with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) in Nigeria on its Mission for Water Project to provide safe drinking water to villagers in Kebbi state. Through the rehabilitation of 50 hand pumps, the initiative is benefitting more than 30,000 villagers.
In Nigeria, about 70 million people lack access to safe drinking water, with more than 110 million lacking access to adequate sanitation. Every year, an estimated 124,000 children under the age of five die because of diarrhea, as a result of unsafe water and lack of proper sanitation.
As the largest privately held spirits company in the world, Bacardi recognizes the importance of the local communities where we live and work and plays an active role in giving back by supporting organizations that make a difference.
This water pump rehabilitation initiative was officially launched today by Alejandro Ouziel, Regional President for Bacardi in Asia, Middle East & Africa, along with Mohammed Bala Yelwa, Deputy General Manager of Kebbi State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA)and Col GR Prasad, the Chief Executive of Tulsi Chanrai Foundation. Also representing family-owned Bacardi from its Asia, Middle East & Africa region were Finance Director Gerardo Herrera; Human Resources Director Saurabh Upadhyay; Legal Director Andrew Deane; and Managing Director – Nigeria Vikas Mittal.
“By living our values every day, we also commit ourselves to contributing to a more sustainable future for all. By caring deeply and passionately about our business and the world around us, we excel in creating brands consumers can trust,” said Ouziel. “Our goal is to return to the environment at least as much as we take away.”
Kebbi State RUWASSA representative, Mohammed Bala Yelwa, added, “We have felt the impact of the Bacardi water initiative in the state. We appreciate the effort of the company in giving the indigenes safe drinking water which has helped to eradicate illnesses in the long run.”
In addition to restoring the water pumps, representatives from TCF briefed the villagers about the importance of safe drinking water. A goal of the project is to motivate the local community to take ownership of and maintain water sources, as well as to engage local governments to provide support.
“This is a just beginning for us in Nigeria. For Bacardi, it is in our long-term interest to foster healthy and vibrant communities. Our employees and business partners come from many local communities, and respecting and supporting our communities is an important part of our being a trusted partner,” added Mittal.
READ ALSO: Emirates To Deploy Extra Flights For The Upcoming Hajj Season
“TCF is extremely thankful to Bacardi for their partnership. Over the years 1.9 million people have been given access to safe water in partnership with government agencies and other like-minded organizations, TCF aims to make high quality sustainable and replicable models in primary health care, provision of safe drinking water and eye care in Nigeria,” added Col Prasad Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the foundation.
