Nike in collaboration with Waves for Water, the philanthropic organization supported by Hurley International (subsidiary of Nike), presented the Gamechanger Bucket—a container, which provides access to both clean water and sport. Because of the dramatic earthquake in Haiti in the beginning of last year and due to the poor clean water supply in the country (Haiti doesn’t have public water system and is classified as having the worst water ranking out of 147 countries in the world), in October the country experienced an outbreak of cholera. This kit, containing water filter and tarp & rope for catching rain, was designed to help tackle the problem and prevent new epidemic outbursts.
Image: www.globalgiving.org
The Gamechanger Bucket, which is a plastic portable 5-gallon container, includes with a water filter, which can provide safe clean water for 100 people for at least 5 years. This will help stop the spreading of water-borne diseases and contribute to the improving of the current sanitary situation in the country. As Jon Rose, pro surfer and Waves for Water’s founder, comments in his post on the project, developing the kit they “felt that the bare essentials for survival were health & happiness, i.e. water & sport.” That is why the Gamechanger Bucket also includes the sport element—a deflated soccer ball, cones to mark the field and a ball pump—which was added to the kit to engage more people in sport like it was done through a range of other project such as Homeless Cup. The first 30 kits were given away by Waves for Water back in fall 2010 to two small communities in Léogâne, which was the epicenter in the quake.
Image: www.globalgiving.org
“By adding the soccer element with these kits really changes the community dynamic. There is an innocent excitement that you just don’t get with giving water, food, or shelter. Those things are SO needed but they are still reminders of how challenging their lives are. The soccer is a step through the doorway of their shattered existence, to a new place where the weight of the world is not on their shoulders. It is a much needed departure filled with camaraderie, union, and laughter,» said Jon Rose.
Image: www.globalgiving.org
Those who want to support the cause can go to the project’s page on Global.Living.org and donate money, which will sponsor the buckets (contributors can choose one of the suggested amounts or enter sum on their own consideration).