Georg Fischer and Caritas Switzerland have agreed to a partnership for the supply of drinking water.
The Clean Water Foundation of Georg Fischer will provide the sum of CHF 1 million Swiss francs in cash,which will enable Caritas to provide at least 35,000 people worldwide with sustainably improved access to clean drinking water until 2015.
Georg Fischer is making this donation to mark the tenth anniversary of its Clean Water Foundation.To date the foundation has supported almost 90 projects in 50 countries,providing 200,000 people worldwide with sustainably improved access to drinking water.
A technical and financial partnership
Yves Serra,CEO of Georg Fischer,declared at the signing ceremony: The issue of clean water availability touches us all.As a specialist of water supply systems,we are convinced at Georg Fischer to be in a position to offer a meaningful contribution towards its resolution.That is why we established in 2002 the Georg Fischer Clean Water Foundation.For the implementation of the Clean Water projects,we are happy to collaborate with reputable NGOs like Caritas.They guarantee the efficient use of the funds and the sustainability of the projects.
Hugo Fasel,Director of Caritas Switzerland,described the partnership with Georg Fischer as ground-breaking.Providing people with clean drinking water is an essential prerequisite in the fight against the extreme forms of poverty in developing countries.Caritas,with its experience in partnering projects for drinking water supply in developing countries,is proud that Georg Fischer and its Clean Water Foundation are involved in the implementation of these projects, he said.
Regular technical workshops planned
Within this partnership,Georg Fischer and Caritas Switzerland plan a regular exchange of information between the partners?technical specialists.GF Piping Systems,a Corporate Group of Georg Fischer,which is present in more than 50 countries,will make its know-how and expertise available to Caritas.The primary aim is to bring about tangible improvements to drinking water access through the use of innovative methods combined with locally available technologies and piping systems.
