Miir, a designer of bicycles, bags and bottles, joined non-profit Splash to launch a partnership to bring water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) services to 100 percent of public schools in Kathmandu, Nepal by 2021, which will impact 175,000 of the poorest children in the city.
Through its Product to Project movement, Seattle-based Miir gives 5 percent of revenue to giving areas aligned with its product lines. Splash, also based in Seattle, is a non-profit that aims to improve the health and development of children in dense, urban areas by ensuring they have clean water, clean hands and clean toilets. The two companies will fund the first batch of projects in this partnership immediately, benefitting 1,200 kids at nine schools by January 1, 2017.
“Splash is an ideal partner to bring clean water to those without access. They have a proven model to deliver WaSH projects and they understand the power of using social enterprise as an engine for long-term project sustainability,” said Nick MacPhee, chief impact officer at Miir. “We are proud to support an organization so committed to providing kids with healthy learning environments.”
Current water services for Kathmandu Valley’s 2.5 million people are inadequate, and a citywide baseline survey of schools conducted before the 2015 earthquake showed the majority of non-Splash partner schools tested positive for E. coli and high presence of total coliform bacteria. Splash’s goal is to reach all 650 public schools in urban Kathmandu, benefiting 175,000 children, by 2021.
“We’ve been impressed by Miir’s innovative business approach and inspired by their strong commitment to social justice,” said Eric Stowe, founder and CEO of Splash. “Combine that with their fun and smart team, great products and design and a solid track record supporting global organizations, and they quickly become an ideal partner for Splash. This is a tremendous opportunity to leverage each other’s work toward larger social gains.”
