In partnership with Sawyer, a water filtration technology company, our nonprofit launched a project to bring safe, sustainable drinking water to students in Shou Chun Middle School, a region in China facing water quality challenges due to China’s aging infrastructure and rapid industrialization, which contributed to widespread water pollution, particularly from heavy metals that boiling water cannot eliminate. As a result, many families rely on single-use plastic water bottles for drinking water. This not only creates a significant environmental burden but also limits access to affordable, safe hydration.

To address this, we created and distributed custom clean water kits to 50 students and 5 teachers, who were given multiple filters to distribute, at the school. Each kit included original infographics in Chinese, designed to explain how the filters work. We also delivered a Mandarin-language presentation on water pollution, health risks, and long-term solutions, empowering students to make informed decisions about water safety and plastic consumption. We also identified water sources that each student can used based on their location and the types of contaminants present.

Behind the Scenes