Did you know that one 750ml pot of coffee requires up to 840 litres of water to produce?
And that much of the coffee we drink comes from places where many people lack access to safe water?
That's why Coffee Hit is donating 5% of all profits from coffee sales to support Project Waterfall, a charity devoted to finding and implementing tangible and long-lasting solutions to the water crisis.
It is estimated that 785million people across the globe don't have access to clean water. Most of them live in rural, isolated communities, the same places where much of the world's coffee is grown.
Every year, 1.6million people die from water-related diseases, the majority of them children.
And it's not just drinking dirty water that causes problems – women and girls can spend up to eight hours a day collecting clean water that weighs, on average, 20 kilos. This can lead to spinal and pelvic deformities, miscarriages and chronic fatigue, and also stops girls from being able to go to school.
Project Waterfall's mission is to unite the coffee industry and coffee drinkers to give back to the communities growing the coffee we sell by investing in sustainable clean water, sanitation and hygiene projects.
Helping coffee growers live better lives
Since 2011, the charity has raised more than £1.5million and changed more than 70,000 lives in Nicaragua, Tanzania, Rwanda, Vietnam, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia by bringing clean water, sanitation and education to coffee-growing communities.
Its work includes creating access to water – for example, hand-digging wells or bringing in a drilling team – and solutions to improve its quality, such as bio-sand filters or water purification systems.
But Project Waterfall goes beyond the water itself, understanding and addressing its impact on wider society. Clean water and sanitation bring greater access to education. Better toilet facilities boost school attendance.
With fresh water, communities can grow healthy food and start small businesses. It breaks the poverty cycle, underpinning every aspect of society and allowing communities to develop and grow.
Coffee Hit owner Paul Radin said: "We were only too happy to support this important project. Coffee growers come from some of the world's poorest communities, and it's only right that we do what we can at this end to improve conditions for farmers, their families, and their communities wherever possible. We encourage other coffee-related businesses to get on board with this vital initiative to support the industry around the world."
Project Waterfall – bringing clean water, sanitation and hygiene to coffee communities
Every project funded by Project Waterfall includes training local people to continue to maintain the water source long after the work is done, ensuring a permanent supply of clean water. To ensure a long-lasting impact, a project is only committed to when the charity has secured the funds to ensure it can be completed.
Future goals include:
- Reaching a further 50,000 people to give them clean water, sanitation and hygiene
- Increase awareness of the water crisis around the world
- Give individuals and businesses new ways of making a tangible difference
- Raise a further £1.5million this year.
Every single penny of public donations goes to funding clean water projects.
And that's why Coffee Hit is donating 5% of all coffee sale profits to Project Waterfall. We'll then match that total every quarter with an additional donation.
What happens when you donate to Project Waterfall
Access to clean water changes everything. Child mortality rates drop. Girls can spend more time in school. Women can start their own businesses. And dignity is restored to communities.
Coffee Hit is proud to support Project Waterfall and help the people who provide our daily cup of coffee live better lives. Coffee Hit sells the finest UK-roasted coffees from around the world. Every bag you purchase will support Project Waterfall.
