World Water Day 2020

OK, so here in the UK we’ve had nothing but rain since September. However, extreme weather, brought on by climate change, is actually making water more scarce in certain areas of the world, and worryingly far more unpredictable and polluted.

For so many countries – those already at their most vulnerable – water is a hugely precious commodity. Like Ghana for example, a place where I have spent many weeks over the last few years. Hearing that Ghana is now in virtual Coronavirus lockdown is terrifying. People are washing more frequently and this is putting even more strain on the limited clean water supply they have, and forcing them to use unsafe options.

So many things in life I take for granted and turning on a tap is definitely one of them. This month I spent a long, hot and dusty day conducting a survey in a rural Ghanaian village, seeing for myself the devastating effects dirty, unsafe water can have on a community. I’ve been helping to assess the impact of clean water and its overwhelming effect on health, education and family life, where people can spend hours every single day fetching water.

As many of you know I am proud to be a Trustee to Kicking Off, a charity that uses sport initially as a way of bringing disadvantaged communities together. Once we have gained trust within that community we work with them to provide sustainable solutions to the issues they have ( watch this space for news of our first fully functioning peanut farm !).

Clean water is a huge concern to the Kicking Off team and this year we have been instrumental, along with a funding partner, in bringing bore holes to a number of rural villages in Ghana. In the Kicking Off project area of Kumasi, Ghana, three new boreholes have been drilled in a region where we carried out research that showed 45.7% of villagers had visited a medical centre in the last six months due to water related illnesses, whilst another community spent 14hrs per day, per household, collecting water from a stream.

I was lucky enough to spend a day watching a bore hole be drilled. Watching water shoot out of the ground in a place where there has been none is one of the most exciting and emotional moments you can ever experience. In addition we are introducing “Tippy Taps” to schools and villages as a low cost simple aid to hand washing.

To raise invaluable funds that will help Kicking Off continue their work we are hosting our second Kicking Off Charity Ball this year, on the revised date of Friday 16th October. I have also run marathons (lost toe nails) and ridden from Land’s End to John O’Groats (getting very saddle sore) to raise money.

You too can help – don’t panic, there’s no running or cycling involved – text KICK to 70577 to donate £10per month, less than a good bottle of wine, or contacting me about a one off donation.

As a business, why not put your marketing budget to good use and become a sponsor at this year’s Ball? We have lots of exciting packages available to promote your brand to leading figures within the finance industry – please get in touch, you can call me directly on 07785 596053 or email me at carole@capitalcorporate.co.uk