UNICEF Tap Project calls people to digitally detox for drinkable water

UNICEF is continuing its Tap Project, which is now in its 8th year, with a new campaign that takes on smartphone addiction. The organization is encouraging people to give up their much-loved habit of posting and viewing updates, playing games, checking e-mail etc. in return for water and sanitation that will be provided to children in deprived regions.

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Photo: 2014’s UNICEF Tap Project

The humanitarian organization commits to drive its sponsor—Giorgio Armani—to buy one day of clean water for a child for every 10 minutes a user doesn’t touch the smartphone. The non-profit mentions that $1 can provide 40 days of clean water, so logically every 10 minutes of disconnect brings 2.5 cents. To join in, a person just has to open the Uniceftapproject.org page on a smartphone.

Today, 768 million people across the globe don’t have safe and clean drinking water. Huge number of people—up to 2.5 billion people—do not have access to a proper toilet as well. Every single day, 1,400 children die because of diseases directly caused by unsafe water or insufficient sanitation.

The new installment of UNICEF Tap Project will be running through February 28. People can also make direct donation through the site of the initiative. The non-profit and its partners have provided more than 2.1 billion people with clean water to drink since 1990, and this initiative will definitely add to this success—with just $5, one child can get an access to drinking water for 200 days.

In 2012, UNICEF Tap Project launched an effort at participating restaurants encouraging people to pay $1 or more for tap water they usually get for free. The initiative was rolling out from March 19—25, 2012 during World Water Week, aiming to generate more drinkable water for kids in deprived regions.