How Our Partnership With charity: water Is Changing Lives in Ethiopia

Nearly one in 10 people around the world—a total of 785 million people—have limited access to clean water. That’s what the nonprofit organization charity: water is trying to change. Last year, we partnered with charity: water to raise funds for the development of 10 clean water projects in Ethiopia, scheduled to be completed in January 2021. This was made possible because of member donations at checkout and Red Nose Day USA. Thanks to our members, we reached our original donation goal of $50,000. Those donations were matched by Red Nose Day USA to bring our total donation to charity: water up to $100,000.

How We’re Partnering With charity: water

This year, we’re partnering with charity: water once again, with the same goal in mind—raise $50,000 to build four community wells with hand pumps in Ethiopia. Since launching Thrive Market, we’ve dedicated our mission to making healthy living accessible for everyone. This applies to very basic human necessities, such as clean, safe drinking water, in addition to our primary focus on the food we eat and products we use. We’re proud to partner with charity: water this month and to give our members the opportunity to help bring clean water to these communities.

Stories From Ethiopia

Charity: water shared stories from the men, women, and families whose lives have been changed by access to clean water. Read on to see how your member donations will make an impact.

Tadese From Adi Etot, Ethiopia

Tadese may be 75 years old, but his routine is robust. After waking each morning, Tadese eats a breakfast of spicy honey butter and milk, then makes his way to the farm, where he ploughs, weeds, and threshes to support his wife, four sons, and two daughters. While farming is a lot of work, the biggest hardship for Tadese and his family has been collecting clean water. They have had to walk to far-off water sources two times every day, and the water they brought home was harmful to their health. Today, everything is different. “We have transitioned from the darkest life to the brightest life,” Tadese told the charity:water team. “We have won the lottery.”

Akbret From Rahya, Ethiopia

Akbret and the other women in her community of Rahya, Ethiopia, used to spend four to six hours each day walking to collect dirty water. During the dry season, when the riverbed would dry up, they would resort to digging holes with the hope that water would ultimately surface. It was never convenient. With support from generous donors, their lives have changed. “For a long period of time, we had no imagination that water could be developed here,” Akbret shared. “A few years ago, we started to wish for that possibility. Our wish has become real because of your support. My wish was for a better future for my children. But now, it’s not only for my children—I myself enjoy clean water.”

Gueday From Adi Etot, Ethiopia

Gueday was pregnant with her first child when charity: water met her in 2016. Her baby would have grown up drinking unsafe water, just as Gueday did as a child. “Without clean water, kids may get sick. Now, when a kid is born, they are very lucky. They have a good chance at life,” Gueday shared. “When we had to fetch water from a far distance, kids wouldn’t get food on time and they’d cry for longer. Now I can come home immediately to be with them and provide what they need. Because clean water is close, I have enough time to be with my kids.”

Photos courtesy of charity: water.