Just a Drop is a philanthropy organization launched in 1998 at the World Travel Market as an international water aid charity.

The projects of the organization support people by supplying a local, clean water supply to some of the poorest communities in the world. It does this by constructing boreholes and wells, pipelines, hand pumps and latrines, along with helping to establish some of the very best health and sanitation programs. The aim of Just a Drop is to reduce the mortality rate of children by providing accessible, clean and safe water to the parts of the world where it is needed the most.

One thing the philanthropy organization is well known for is the work it carries out in some of the remotest and inhospitable areas in the world - areas others are unable to reach. So far, the organization has helped over 1 million children and their families in 30 countries around the globe, from Afghanistan to Zambia.

Every 20 seconds a child will die from a disease that is water borne - just one of the alarming facts surrounding water related issues. In addition, around 783 million individuals in the world do not have access to clean drinking water; 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation and more than 2.75 million people die each year from diseases related to drinking unsafe water. What is more, it is thought that children living in poverty carry around 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies.

In Africa more than 40 billion hours each year are spent carrying water. Women carry water in Africa and Asia which weighs as much as 20kg - the same as the average baggage allowance in the UK.

To help overcome these challenges, the water aid philanthropy charity relies on a small but dedicated team in Richmond, UK, and a team of voluntary project officers. The charity is also supported by a team of Trustees, patrons and ambassadors in order to carry out its work. The commitment and coordination of the volunteer field operatives is what has led to much of the charity’s success; many of them are former British army engineering personnel, with engineering backgrounds. The Richmond team consists of fundraising and communications staff who are responsible for ensuring that there are funds in place so that that the organization can continue with its work.

The board of Trustees is responsible for the management and governance of the philanthropy charity. Patrons consist of public figures along with celebrities who give their time to spread awareness of the cause, while ambassadors help to build and develop support. The organization has several partners both in and outside of the travel industry that support the work of the organization.

Last year, the charity had the luxury of carrying out 18 projects in nine destinations, including Afghanistan, Haiti, India, Kenya, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, supporting 86,564 people.

Editorial | Image Courtesy Of Just A Drop