In honor of World Water Day, FACE Africa hosted a gala in New York City to benefit the cause of safe drinking water in Liberia. FACE Executive Saran Kaba Jones indicated that the funds raised would go towards FACE’s County by County Commitment, which looks to provide access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities to the entire county of Rivercess, one of the poorest counties in Liberia.
FACE honored Lisa Lovatt-Smith, a fashion pioneer who rose to fashion director of Spanish Vogue. She wrote 13 interior design and photography books including Paris Interiors and Moroccan Interiors. Ten years ago, she moved to rural Ghana and founded OrphanAid which serves Ghana’s children. Among her beneficiaries are some of Ghana’s most vulnerable children, including victims of abuse, child labor and sex trafficking.
FACE Honorary Chair Kevin M
cGovern spoke about how the challenges to delivering clean water are complex. Accessing clean water is an issue of both quantity and quality, and ensuring that delivery meets standards on both fronts. In addition, he spoke about the need to develop solutions that take local culture into consideration. He gave the example of an aid organization that thought proximity to water was an issue, and developed products that gave rural families a product to clean water in the home. They didn’t understand why the women didn’t adopt the technology until they discovered that the women preferred to travel to a well a quarter mile away so as to give them a break from their homes.
The event was hosted by Quddus, former host of the MTV show, Total Request Live. He was also the host of Dance on Sunset with Nick 6, was featured on the cover of TV Guide and was named as one of People’s “Sexiest Men Alive.”
FACE was founded in 2009 and has completed 6 projects at a school, orphanage, a market and three villages benefiting over 5,000 people in rural communities in Liberia. Hundreds have been saved from death and illness through FACE’s efforts.
The organization has an ambitious yet simple goal: CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER for every single person in Liberia. They fund and support sustainable clean water, sanitation and hygiene projects through partnerships with local communities, partner organizations and government agencies.
They also believe passionately that economic opportunities for women hold the promise for real change in Liberia, and enter partnerships with other women’s groups, in order to empower disadvantaged women through education, skills training, economic opportunities and financial literacy.
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