Splash Launches Fundraising Campaign for Nepal, Leveraging Proven Approach To Clean Water and Sanitation to Support Recovery Following Devastating Earthquakes

SEATTLE, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Splash, an innovative social enterprise dedicated to fighting waterborne illness for children globally, today launched an ambitious campaign to raise $500,000 to secure safe water for hundreds of thousands of people in Nepal effected by the recent earthquakes. Prior to these devastating events, Splash water filtration systems provided clean water to 100,000 children and are now being utilized by the broader Kathmandu community – with each system capable of functioning at five times the previously capacity to serve as many as 500,000 people. Funds will go towards accelerating already-established efforts in the region, which has seen the price of purified and bottled water more than double, leaving many living in urban poverty with little to no options for clean water. While work has already began, Splash will specifically utilize these funds through the end of the year to address the urgent need and further long-term recovery efforts.

To find more information on the campaign, donate, or create your own campaign to support the cause, please visit: Splash.org/nepal-earthquake

Since 2007, Splash has installed 150 high volume, point-of-use water-filtration systems in Nepal schools. Most Splash systems successfully survived the earthquake. Those impacted were minimally compromised and can be restored with modest funding.

"Clean, safe water is the number one need in Nepal right now. Because our team here is 100 percent local, we were able to get out into the community very quickly and are currently assessing the status of each school we serve," said Prakash Sharma, Director of Splash-Nepal. "We have seen many quick-fix attempts from people who just want to help. Unfortunately, this is not a temporary fix. This is why seven years ago we built purification systems with enough capacity to make a real difference in people's lives during this crisis. While I am happy to report that many families in Kathmandu now have access to safe water because of Splash, a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure that each and every resident of Nepal gets the clean water they deserve."

Splash is uniquely positioned to provide a successful earthquake recovery program in Nepal.  With its local NGO accreditation and trained Nepali staff, the organization is able to assess the evolving needs in the area, verify status of its equipment – and make the necessary repairs – without having to import supplies or recruit additional workers from outside Nepal. Deep relationships with government and educational institutions have already ensured that water systems designed to support a single school are now serving entire communities. This is possible because the systems were built using durable, high-quality materials, designed to serve thousands of customers at global hotel and restaurant chains.

"We are deeply grateful to our supporters, who have helped us to bring safe water, hygiene and sanitation to more than 150 schools across Kathmandu – and now to entire communities following the recent earthquake," said Eric Stowe, Founder and Executive Director of Splash, headquartered in Seattle, WA. "We are launching this campaign to help expand our efforts in Nepal, but also to ensure clean, fresh water for the citizens of Kathmandu – and beyond - for many years to come."

Splash opened its doors in Nepal in 2007 with a goal of ensuring sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) in every public school in Kathmandu. At the time of the earthquake, it was already serving 60 percent of its target population – or more than 100,000 kids - clean water daily.  As Splash continues to verify the status of its water filtration systems post-earthquake, it is finding that a remarkable number of them have remained intact– even where buildings around them crumbled.

About Splash

Splash (www.splash.org) is an innovative, social enterprise dedicated to fighting waterborne illness for children globally. With its unique focus on kids living in urban poverty and collaborative partnerships with local schools, orphanages and hospitals, Splash solves critical problems with water, hygiene, and sanitation. Today Splash serves clean water daily to more than 300,000 kids in 8 countries – with a goal of 1,000,000 by 2020.

Splash is swiftly emerging as a field-leader among international development organizations, defining success through the lens of sustainability with transparency. Provocatively, Splash works to become obsolete in countries served so that locally rooted, financially independent solutions can thrive. Through this model, philanthropy becomes seed capital rather than an ongoing base for dependency.

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