I just wrapped up two days at the annual Social Good Summit in New York City. While I have been attending the SGS for the past five years, this year had particular meaning as I was asked to be a United Nations Foundations Fellow. I was given special access to speakers and exclusive events going on around the conference and that was very invigorating, both as a writer and cause marketer. To get up close and personal to many of the people behind major movements that are creating major change around the world was something special.

I’m a strong believer in using one’s voice for social good and I’ve enjoyed using this blog as just one of my many platforms to get word out about initiatives I believe can change the world, but best of all, it was magnificent to be in a room full of people who really care and make it their life work to plug into their passion and go out there and change the world.

 Social Good Summit

This year’s Social Good Summit was abouthow we envision the planet in 2030. The conference took the Global Goals, which were created last year and went more into detail about how each goal is being carried out to bring a solution for each. Described as a blueprint for the future, the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets address such daunting challenges as climate change, hunger, education, gender equality, sanitation, jobs, justice and shared peace.

I was curious to see how the UN was faring with the mission of carrying out these goals. And while I’m not here to say I definitively can not answer that question, I am here to say that things are happening and that a lot of work is being done in all of the seventeen areas. This year’s attendees were urged to examine how they could play a role in the 2030 agenda. By using our passions, communities and skills, we can push the agenda so much further than ever before. I believe that the Social Good Summit remains a necessity.

Here were a few of my takeaways from the conference and what inspired me. There was a lot to digest in a few days, but here’s what I’m thinking about here and now and what’s motivating me.

The world is finally ready to help refugees. Finally.

It was only one year ago that the world was presented with the devastating photo of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy of Kurdish ethnic background whose image made global headlines after he drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. The image of his father holding his body resonated around the world and was a wake-up call about the refugee crisis. However, one year later, the situation has worsened considerably. We heard that there are 65 million refugees who need help, and 50% of that number is children. The situation is dire. Obama was in NYC to attend a conference addressing this huge problem. Members of Olympian Team Refugee were at the Summit. The situation was mentioned throughout the conference and is clearly one of the UN’s current main initiatives.

What do I plan on doing? I am working to bring my local community into the international conversation. Stay tuned for this space as I will share details as the situation develops further.

Gender Equality remains a priority.

As SDG #5, a lot of the sessions were focused on gender equality and giving the voiceless a voice. YouTube personalities Jazz Jennings and Ingrid Nilsen spoke out about the state of global equity for the LGBTQ community and how that is being represented in media. Journalist Barkha Dutt spoke with former leaders of Malawi and New Zealand, Dr. Joyce Banda and Helen Clark. Both of these former leaders shared their experiences ruling their respected nations as women and the hardships they faced during their run.

What do I plan on doing? Educating myself. Inspiring my 13-year old daughter. Making sure our next U.S. President is a woman.

Real issues are being tackled.

In some cases, famous people came to talk about causes of importance to them. Talk about using your platform wisely. The Vice President spent about 40 minutes educating the audience on his Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to eradicate cancer from society by improving research, patient care and more. As a cancer survivor, his words meant a heck of a lot to me. When he leaves office, he’s going to do so much for this world. Demi Lovato opened up about mental illness and substance abuse. She was frank and very, very real about her battle.  Singer Cody Simpson addressed the issue of climate change and what should be done to save the ecosystem. Comedienne Chelsea Handler discussed using her new Netflix show to make a difference, moving her away from the world of celebrity gossip to something more substantial.

What do I plan on doing? Just as VP Biden spoke out and stood for a cause he so sincerely believes in and has a personal connection to, so do I. I am a cancer survivor and I’ve been quiet to date. It may be time to stand up and speak out to help other people.

Social media matters.

From #BlackLivesMatter to #2030NOW, hashtags were flying, and words and messages were being broadcast around the world. I’ve raised money for so many causes and raised so much awareness using my platform. The world has finally seemed to wake up to the fact that this new medium can spread messages faster than every before.

What do I plan on doing? Well, that’s obvious herebut I do have access to many other platforms and I’ll strive to use them further.

Education, education, education. 

The best thing we can offer any marginalized person is an education. It was really the WORD of the moment as education can save refugees from poverty, young girls from slavery, and it can create leaders, both male and female, all over the world.

What do I plan on doing? Finishing my Masters, for one thing.

Technology is key.

We were constantly told about new start-ups, new initiatives being created to spark action. The invention of the cell phone has really moved the needle on just about everything. There is so much more possibility than ever before as a result and every year the focus on tech gets deeper and deeper.

What do I plan on doing? Staying on top of technology advances that can save the world.

Citizen Journalism is alive and kicking.

Have a passion for a cause and want to do more than you’re doing? Social media is the best way to spread the word.

What do I plan on doing? Making my voice heard wherever I can on issues that matter most to me.

More younger people are coming to the table than ever. And they are changing the world.

We were introduced to a Memory Banda,  who when faced with the prospect of marriage and children at a very young age,  decided to take her fate into her own hands, ultimately convincing 60 chiefs to pass by-lows that have protected four million girls from child marriage in Malawi. Throughout the conference, young people were on stage, inspiring us. We were introduced to 17 U.N. Young Leaders who were selected from more than 18,000 applicants for their leadership on efforts to achieve the goals.

What do I plan on doing? Making my kids two of these change makers.

I can’t wait to see what 2017 brings and what progress will be made in the next 12 months. I’m inspired.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the SGS as a fellow but I was not asked to write anything in particular. All opinions are my own.

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I’m a child of the 1980s, so HIV is not an unfamiliar term for me. It was more widely known as AIDS, but everyone knew about the virus.

I heard story after story of people dying from the disease. Stories of all people, men and women, young and old, black and white. I probably didn’t hear enough, partly because the U.S. President at the time tried to brush the enormity of the situation away. However, what I did hear stayed with me.

Later as a young woman living on my own in New York City, I headed to a clinic in Harlem to get tested, just as I was entering a serious relationship with my now husband. He came, too. I remember the fear and worry we had waiting for the results, because you just never know, but when they came back, they were negative.

Not many people realize how big an issue the HIV virus still is, especially for people over 50 – an age I admittedly am rapidly approaching.  HIV is  a thing of the past, but rather something we should continue to raise awareness about while advocating for those most affected.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve become more educated about HIV and its impact on all of us and the statistics are just as staggering today as they were then.

— More than a million people are living with HIV in the U.S. and that HIV does not discriminate across race, gender, or age.

— While the overall infection rate has decreased in the U.S., there is a significant risk to those 50+ who are less likely to get tested and, as a result, are subject to higher mortality rates than their younger counterparts.

— The stigma associated with HIV is one of the underlying reasons for low testing rates within this age group. Stigma leads to marginalization of those that are positive, decreased testing due to the fear of a positive diagnosis, fear of disclosing status and getting treatment, and fewer conversations about safe sex.

With these daunting stats in mind, I’m happy to share news about the Let’s Stop HIV Together, a campaign that raises awareness about HIV and its impact on the lives of all Americans, and fights stigma by showing that persons with HIV are real people—mothers, fathers, friends, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, partners, wives, husbands, and co-workers.

The following video is about one woman just like you and me, except for one thing: she contracted HIV. Quite innocently – just like it could happen to all of us. Watch and learn.

After more than 30 years, HIV-related stigma continues to be a barrier that we must overcome to reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation in the United States. We all have a role to play in stopping HIV, and it starts with supporting people living with HIV and talking about HIV with our friends, families, and loved ones.

The important thing is that, once tested, know that positive diagnosis is no longer a death sentence – people can live healthy fulfilling lives with the proper treatment.We must re-double our efforts to assure that all people know about HIV, how to prevent transmission, their HIV status, and that people with HIV are linked to care, and treatment and prevention services. We can stop HIV Together—by getting the facts, getting tested and getting involved.

Every voice and every story is important. Individuals featured in Let’s Stop HIV Together have shared their stories to raise awareness, fight stigma about HIV, encourage HIV prevention and testing, and champion the power of relationships in the personal and public fight to stop HIV.

The campaign tells people to get tested. Testing is the only way to know if you are HIV positive but many people avoid testing because of stigma. Knowing your status may empower you to talk openly about what it’s like to get tested and encourage others to do the same. For more information about testing and to find a testing site near you. After you do, tell everyone and get them to do the same.

You can help reduce stigma and increase awareness and knowledge about HIV by sharing your own messages of hope and encouragement, so write about it. Talk about it. Share your story. Engage on social media and make some noise. Get others to join you. Host an event in your community to educate people about HIV.

After all, your voice is the one that matters most. Make it heard.

Disclosure: This post is made possible by support from the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. All opinions are my own.

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Last week I was invited to a very important event about so many topics I care about rolled into one: feminism, prostitution, pop culture, exploitation and a feminist foreign policy (sounds dreamy, yes?). Yes, all of this being talked about with some of the top feminist experts in these fields. I was thrilled and honored to be invited by We are Women Online and Donor Direct Action, a non-profit n strengthens women’s rights organizations around the world by increasing access to funds, advocacy, and visibility.

I won’t go into detail why,  but the event was timed perfectly as I really craved a dose of inspiration. I had a feeling the morning would provide just that, and I was not disappointed. Problems and solutions. Three people leading the right in the battle for women’s rights. All this early on a weekday morning in Manhattan, right near Grand Central. It was inspiring to say the least. They are proof that when you believe very strongly in something and are determined to make change, you can. We can all be change makers with the right tools.

To lead the discussion, Donor Direct Action brought in Gloria Steinem, a well known feminist and my long time personal hero, Rachel Moran, a survivor of the sex trade and Margot Wallström, Sweden’s Foreign Minister who summed up the discussion very well when she said: “The empowerment of women and girls is a true example of smart politics. Gender equality is not only about women’s rights but is a matter of ensuring peace and security for all.”

She was commenting on the fact that Sweden had just been elected to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council where she hoped to have the opportunity to “make a feminist foreign policy for the world”, perhaps at a time when also the UN and the US will also be headed by women, she observed.

A Feminist Policy

Sweden’s feminist foreign policy is made up of the three ‘Rs’, Wallström explained: Rights, Representation and Resources. Does this policy ensure women enjoy the same rights as men and ensure that human rights are also seen as women’s rights? Are women around the negotiating table and represented everywhere? How are resources and power distributed? “When you ask these questions it will lead to our policy.”

Making the connections is the media’s challenge today, commented Steinem. “Our biggest struggle now is to understand that so-called women’s issues are connected to every issue. The status of females, in all our diversity is part of absolutely every story.”

Prostitution: A Media Image

She then compared the challenge of the media image of prostitution, which many people have a Pretty Woman image of in their mind, and is completely false: “There may be 12 women someplace who have that much power and run into Richard Gere – I don’t know. But it’s not the reality.”

Moran then spoke from her heart, as a survivor and the leader of her own organization, SPACE International. ““We know from the experience of having been prostituted across thousands of encounters exactly what the nature of prostitution is. What was happening to us in the brothels wasn’t work or anything remotely resembling work. It was compensated sexual violation. That’s how we experienced it. That’s how we lived it. That’s what we suffered from.”

Prostitution: The Reality

She went onto say: “We have to recognize that this is damaging in all directions. Never mentioned are the wives and girlfriends who haven’t done a thing. There is no element that isn’t damaging and hurtful. It harms everybody. I believe that the recognition of that damage to the social fabric was hugely important in Sweden.”

She was referring to the adoption in Sweden in 1999 of a progressive feminist law to address commercial sexual exploitation and the sex trade. The law has become a model in other countries, such as Norway and Iceland, Northern Ireland, Canada and France. The law makes the purchase or attempted purchase of sex a criminal offense while the seller is not punished.

In Steinem’s opinion, the best indicator of violence is the extent of the polarization of masculine and feminine roles. “We need to consider this as part of our foreign policy” such as when considering what groups to be in discussion with in Syria. “The best indicator of their will to violence is their attitude towards women.”

After the event, full of ammunition and empowerment to go out there and make change, I went right up to my hero. She confirmed that my voice has power – that all of our voices have power. With the right words and context, we can make a difference and use our voice to speak for the voiceless. If you want to help give women a voice who have suffered the abuses of prostitution, consider a donation to Moran’s organization, SPACE or directly to Donor Direct Action.  Together, we can make a difference.

Sources:

http://donordirectaction.org/2016/06/swedens-foreign-minister-margot-wallstrom-talks-peace-feminist-foreign-policy

http://donordirectaction.org/2016/06/pop-culture-affects-view-sexual-exploitation-according-speakers-donor-direct-action-event-30-june-2016

Disclosure: I attended this event as media.

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Happy International Women’s Day! Today we are celebrating all women and girls around the world who have either helped create where we are today, or will be a part in our future efforts to get us where we want and need to be. As the mother of a young tween girl, I see all my hopes and aspirations and the many opportunities, and pitfalls, she has in her future. It’s exciting but it’s also frightening. We are so much further than we were 10-20 years ago but we still have so much progress to make. As a feminist, I see the battle continuing in violence against women, the right to control our bodies, poverty, racism, gender equality, sexism, inequality in the workplace, climate control and the continuous battle of body weight and self image.

For me, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate our achievements but also our setbacks. May my daughter wear her pride on her sleeve every day of her life and never be told she is incapable of doing anything.  May she become a leader in whatever industry she chooses to work on and use her work to inspire younger women to create change and make a difference. May she be able to do anything she wants without being undermined or under-represented. May she continue to glow and feel as though as the world is at her fingertips.

As someone who works in the social good/non-profit space, I see injustices occurring around the world daily. I hope that this day inspires you as much as it inspires you, as well as others, to make the world a better place.

All the best to all of you, women and men, on this important global day. Head to Twitter and shout your loudest using hash tag #IDW2016.

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Last year I wrote about Malala Yousafzai, an amazing young woman. Her story is so inspirational. Named for an Afghan folk heroine, the activist Pakistani teenager was shot in the face and left for dead by the Taliban in 2012 — but recovered and went on to speak out about the gross injustices in girls’ education in her country and around the world, winning the Nobel Peace Prize along the way. The Malala Fund, which she co-founded with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, is building schools in Jordan, Pakistan and Lebanon. I was so inspired by the film made about her, He Named Me Malala and the 25-minute conversation I was fortunate to be a part of with Malala herself, along with my tween-aged daughter by my side.

The documentary offers a look into Malala’s life both before and after the attack. She was 15 at the time of the incident, when she was singled out, along with her father, for advocating for girls’ education. The shooting sparked an outcry from supporters around the world. Malala miraculously survived and is now a leading campaigner for girls’ education globally as co-founder of the Malala Fund.

#HeNamedMeMalala to Premiere on National Geographic Channel

For all these reasons and more, I’m excited that National Geographic Channel, in continuation of its partnership with Fox Searchlight Pictures, will be airing the documentary commercial free on Monday, February 29, on National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo MUNDO in the U.S., with a global rollout planned within a week in 171 countries and 45 languages.

The robust education program for the film includes free education resources, discussion and curriculum guides, a service learning Toolkit, Books for Change, a Map Maker Interactive, and can be found here. Additionally, efforts to expose students to Malala’s inspiring story resulted in over 180,500 students globally seeing the film in theaters, and in the U.S. reaching students in all 50 states.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this review but am working alongside Women Online & The Mission List to help promote the film.

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Last month I attended the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which was one of the most exciting events I’ve ever attended. The United Nations want to help rid the world of extreme poverty, provide an equal education for girls and boys, and protect our environment for generations to come, and it was there that they announced a new platform to attain these goals – a total of 17 global goals for global sustainable development. These goals will set the world’s agenda for the next 15 years and the event elaborated on the goals our dire need in the world for this type of change.

Each and every goal is compelling and will save lives, but I am going to focus on one: Goal 16: Peace and Justice. The goal is multi-layered:

• To significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
• End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
• Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
• By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organised crime.
• Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
• Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
• Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
• Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.
• By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
• Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
• Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
• Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

As the mother of two young children, ages 10 and 12, this goal is very meaningful to me as it reflects a better world, one in which I want my kids to grow up in and the current situation in Israel is a good example of a need for the world to come together to create a more peaceful existence for the people living there.

Golda Meir, one of my heroines, is one person who tried very hard to bring peace to the state of Israel. She helped to shape the destiny of Israel, the post-World War II creation, especially after she rose to become prime minister in 1969. She was the first woman to become Prime Minister of Israel and was in power for four years. This period was marked by her efforts to gain U.S. aid in the form of military and economic assistance.

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Malala Yousafzai is an amazing young woman. Her story is so inspirational. Named for an Afghan folk heroine, the activist Pakistani teenager was shot in the face and left for dead by the Taliban in 2012 — but recovered and went on to speak out about the gross injustices in girls’ education in her country and around the world, winning the Nobel Peace Prize along the way. The Malala Fund, which she co-founded with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, is building schools in Jordan, Pakistan and Lebanon.

Last week I was given the opportunity to be on a group phone interview with Malala, which was an honor. It was about as close as one can come to greatness. It was also just a few weeks before the release of her new film, He Named Me Malala, a documentary that includes footage of her on the global circuit — in Lebanon as she opens up a school for girlsm in Nigeria with the families of kidnapped girls, on the Syrian border with refugees — and at home in London. I saw it with my 12 year-old daughter and I can’t speak highly of it enough.

As my daughter and I listened to her on the 25-minute conversation, we were inspired. Her optimism and zest for life are infectious. It is her father’s pronoun that is referred to in the film’s title; Ziauddin raised Malala to have confidence and speak out hence He Named Me Malala.

Here were some memorable quotes from the call:

On inspiring young girls as advocates:

We need more and more girls to come out and speak out.

When everyone is quiet, that is the time to stand up and speak out when it’s necessary.

It is important to know your responsibility and believe in yourself.

It’s important for girls to believe in themselves. There is no limit.

On her Nobel Peace Prize:

This year was for children’s rights. The children won.

Her advice to parents:

Teach them to believe in themselves & their ability to move forward! Don’t clip their wings.

On the right to an education:

It’s every child’s right to have an education

She opened a school in Lebanon on her birthday: It was the best day of my life!

How to create change:

Change doesn’t come by itself, it’s we who bring it.

Don’t put extra borders in front of women. Make the path clear and they can just walk through it.

What can boys do? Get educated & get involved! Need boys to speak out on education for all.

To have my daughter hear all of these words out of an 18 year-old’s mouth was exhilarating and everything I’ve always wanted.

And the film. You must see it. And you must get everyone you know to see it. It will teach you and your children how one person can change the world. Fox Searchlight acquired the worldwide rights to He Named Me Malala. National Geographic is a partner in the film and is bringing it to remote places in the world where it typically wouldn’t be screened. In addition, it’s being translated into a number of languages. The good news is that a lot of people will see it — hopefully. People will witness a girl who turned her trauma into a miracle. Malala is definitely here in this world for a reason, but there are too many reasons to mention.

Wondering what you can do to make a difference and promote this wonderful, important film and Malala’s goal to educate all girls everywhere?

• See the film! It will play nationwide starting October 9th.
• With the film’s upcoming theatrical release, Change.org has launched a social action campaign that will fund middle and high school field trips to see the film and learn from Malala’s story. You can contribute to the Students Stand With Malala Screening Program and help reach the goal of inspiring students across the country with the story of Malala and her family, and lift up the issue of girls’ education globally. Funding is first come, first served based on the order in which teachers submit their projects. Find out more here.
• Donate to the Malala Fund to ensure that girls everywhere get an education. Your gift supports global advocacy efforts, funds girls’ secondary education projects in places like Pakistan, Nigeria, and Kenya, and helps Syrian Refugee girls get back to school.
• Get your voice heard by tweeting: We will not be silent. We will not be invisible. We are speaking out, setting our words on fire. Stand up. Stand now. Stand #withMalala
• Follow the film on Facebook. Tag all copy wih #HeNamedMeMalala.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post but did partner up with We are Women Online to help promote it. All opinions (about the film and otherwise) are my own.

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Social media is changing the delivery of humanitarian aid. The  2015 Social Good Summit spearheaded a session about this subject, led skillfully by reporter Lara Logan. The panel consisted of Naomi Gleit from Facebook, Dr. Pranav Shetty, Health Coordinator, International Medical Corps and Matt Petronzio, Social Good Editor at Mashable. They stressed that when social media is used to reach people, it makes people aware and sheds light on situations they might not otherwise understand or take as serious.

With the surge of social media over the past few years, it’s now easier to get information to people in mass quantities. The conversation focused on how important it is to use these streams for social good, particularly in times of crisis. From the earthquake in Nepal to the current refuge crisis, it is possible to galvanize masses to really do something. It has never been so easy to help people.

Part of the reason of the uptick in social good is that the generation of millennial really cares. They have the tools. Social media is a huge factor in terms of what is happening all over the world, with the rise of usage in platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook has 1.5 billion users all over the world in its community and Gleitt says that the company feels a responsibility to help people, so they started a team dedicated to social good. The company has worked to push out Amber Alerts to find missing children. They’ve built a feature called Safety Check to notify friends and family that you’re safe during a disaster and a Donate Now button to raise money for charities like ALS during the viral Ice Bucket Challenge and after the Nepal earthquake. The latter recently raised $10 million from 700,000 users for Nepal relief. About Facebook’s efforts, Gleitt said, “We feel like are doing a lot of good.” And they are.

Shetty, who works with the Medical Corps, said that his organization’s partnership with Facebook has allowed them to help more people exponentially. “After the Nepal earthquake, we were able to get there faster,” he said. Having that speed translates to a huge impact, which has the greater effect.

The refugee crisis is a good example of a situation that is going viral through the use of social media. Petronzio said that the devastating photo of the Syrian boy’s body on the body galvanized everyone. Mashable covered it, and so did everyone else. But even more than that, readers stepped up and asked what they could do. So Mashable built a “How to Help” series. This single post got more than 65,000 shares, an indication that people were truly interested in the topic.

The panelists agreed that there needs to be more of a framework, an infrastructure to make more of this happen and that ensuring broadband internet in Africa and other developing countries will change the world. It will allow for easier, quicker delivery of service. It will impact families and communities.

Disclosure: I was working at the Social Good Summit and was also there as media. As always, any opinions are my own.

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Did you know that there is one basic key to keeping my family healthy? It’s the power of clean water. Clean water leads to improved health, education, and economic opportunity. Having clean water to drink means children are not ill from the diseases and viruses caused by dirty water, so they can grow strong and healthy. It also means that when children are no longer sick, they can regularly attend school, which gives them a better education. When my husband and I no longer are sick ourselves, or have to take care of sick children, we can both work and earn a regular income to provide stability for their families.

Statistics show that clean water has an important link to health. While it might not be the same illnesses we suffer from in the U.S., there are many bacteria, viruses and parasites that are found in dirty drinking water. Sadly, nearly a billion people are challenged to find clean drinking water every day. Whether it’s here in the U.S., or around the world, having the essentials be clean is important to all of us, especially clean drinking water. Every day, millions of families don’t have clean water to drink. Contaminated water kills more children than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

Here is a glimpse of the current state of the global water crisis:

• 750 million people lack access to clean water.
• 82% of those who lack access to water live in rural areas.
• Diarrhea caused by inadequate hygiene/drinking water kills an estimated 842,000 people ever year.
• 2,300 people are dying every day from diarrhea.
• Major water conservation issues are also taking place in the U.S.; California announced a mandatory 25% cutback in water consumption in all cities in response to their current drought.

As a result of these alarming numbers, companies around the world are stepping up and making commitments to water and sustainability issues. Procter & Gamble is one such company who has taken a stance on water and is committed to providing water to those living in developing nations.

I’ve teamed up with P&G on this post to talk about the power of clean water. P&G believes in sharing our cleaning innovation with the people who need it most, and I’m impressed with their mission. For more than 175 years, P&G has been devoted to developing cleaning innovation through our brands such as, Tide, Bounty, Pantene and Crest. P&G scientists used the research behind laundry detergent to invent the P&G Purifier of Water, which packs the power of a water treatment plant into a packet the size of a tea bag.

Since 2004, P&G has been helping to save lives by providing clean drinking water to families through the Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program. In 2004, P&G created the CSDW Program, which has provided clean water to families in over 75 countries through a network of more than 150 partners. CSDW has provided more than 9 billion liters of clean drinking water, and they are committed to delivering 15 billion liters of clean water by 2020.

P&G scientists used the research behind laundry detergent to invent P&G Purifier of Water packets more than 15 years ago in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Company, which has a strong history of cleaning performance with brands such as Tide, Dawn and Swiffer, used its innovative capability to pack the power of a water treatment plant into a packet the size of a tea bag. The technology is simple to use: with only a bucket, a spoon, a cloth and a small P&G packet, people can purify 10 liters of dirty water in 30 minutes, enough drinking water for a family of five for one day. Since 2004, P&G has worked with more than 150 partners to distribute the packets during emergencies and to those who lack clean water every day.

P&G sent me a trial kit to try out. Within 30 minutes, I transformed a bucket of dirty water into fresh, useable clean waterP&G Purifier of Water packets. I poured brown water into a bucket by adding packets of white powder called “P&G Purifier of Water” (formerly PUR). After slow stirring, the water began to turn clear and the dirt and goop dropped to the bottom. Then I filtered the water through cloths, waited 20 minutes and voila…clean water.

Since the program started more than a decade ago, P&G and its network of global partners have delivered nine billion liters of clean water to those in need. P&G will launch more than 25 new projects over the next five years to bring clean drinking water to more of the world’s most vulnerable groups including malnourished children, people living with HIV/AIDS, families living in rural areas that do not have safe drinking water and victims of natural disasters. Despite progress in the number of people with access to safe drinking water, the United Nations recognizes there is more work to be done and has made universal coverage for safe drinking water one of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be adopted later this month at the UN General Assembly.

Learn more about the program by watching this video:

The Power of Clean Giveaway

Watch the”Power of Clean Water” video and comment afterwards. One randomly selected reader will receive a P&G product basket (value of at least $50) and a $30 donation in their honor to provide clean water for a family in need for one year.

Winner will be selected randomly. This giveaway will end on Wednesday, September 30th at 9am EST. Winner will be posted here, on the Culture Mom Facebook page and via email and will have 24 hours to accept their prize.

If you want to help, you can donate to the program at csdw.org. A small amount makes a big difference. It costs about 10 cents to share a P&G packet with a family in a developing country, and each one provides enough drinking water for a family of five for an entire day.

• $7.50 provides enough water for a year for a child
• $30 provides enough water for an entire family for a year

Disclosure: I’m participating in this campaign on behalf of P&G and The Motherhood. 

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