Our partnership with Splash runs deep, originating in the early days when our corporate giving was focused squarely on funding organizations tackling the global water crisis. While our giving programs have evolved over time, our commitment to supporting this work has remained strong. This year, in honor of World Water Day on March 22nd, 2025, we’re proud to spotlight one of MiiR’s legacy nonprofit partners - Splash!
Shared vision in a more beautiful world
MiiR and Splash both share the belief that every child deserves clean water, clean hands, safe toilets, and access to menstrual health support.
Since 2016, MiiR has donated more than $550,000 to Splash to bring this vision to life.
So, if you've supported MiiR over the past 10 years, your contributions have likely directly supported Splash's work as well. Today, we're excited to share more about Splash’s ongoing efforts, the vital importance of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and reflect on our partnership over the years, including our first few initiatives funded in Kolkata, India, and Nepal.
Who is Splash
Splash’s mission is to provide scalable clean water solutions with a strong emphasis on hygiene education and addressing sanitation challenges.
What sets Splash apart is their ability to create global impact while remaining deeply connected to local communities.
By collaborating with local partners, they tailor their programs to meet specific needs, fostering meaningful relationships that amplify the effectiveness of their work. This localized approach ensures their initiatives truly improve the lives of children and families.
Tackling the global water crisis
Did you know that billions of people around the world still lack access to clean and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services? According to the UN, more than 2 billion people do not have access to clean water, 3.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation, including 1.7 billion without even basic sanitation services. Two billion people lack a basic handwashing facility, and 653 million have no handwashing facility at all.
Many people think of water scarcity as a rural issue, yet cities are exploding in population and in many places, services are unable to keep up with this growth. The most vulnerable citizens are kids, who face disease, school absences, and undignified sanitation without access to water or adequate facilities. By 2050, more than 2.5 billion people will live in cities. Climate change further worsens the crisis by increasing floods, droughts, and water pollution.
Organizations like Splash are stepping up to address this crisis, focusing on urban schools where children often lack clean water and proper sanitation. By working toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure access to water and sanitation for all by 2030, Splash is providing solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and locally managed.
Splash’s model for transforming access to clean water in urban schools
1. Improving Access to Clean Water
One of the most immediate needs in urban poverty is access to safe drinking water. Splash installs commercial-grade water purification systems, storage tanks, and child-friendly drinking stations in schools. These systems use the same technology and supply chains as world-class hotels and restaurants, ensuring high-quality and safe water for children in the world’s largest cities.
Unlike short-term aid, Splash focuses on long-term sustainability. By leveraging local supply chains and improving efficiency, we ensure cost-effective, reliable, and easily maintainable water solutions. We work alongside governments and local organizations, who manage and fund these projects, ensuring their sustainability beyond initial installations.
2. Promoting Sanitation and Hygiene
Lack of sanitation leads to disease outbreaks, school absences, and poor health outcomes. Splash tackles this issue by installing child-friendly toilets, handwashing stations, and hygiene education programs in schools. These efforts prevent the spread of diseases and improve overall community health.
Education and behavior change are key components of our hygiene initiatives. By teaching children proper hygiene practices and involving them in the process, they build lifelong habits that can significantly reduce illness and improve well-being.
3. Ensuring Sustainability of Water Resources
According to UNICEF, 30-50% of WASH projects fail within the first two to five years – many of these due to lack of maintenance. Why? Fluctuations in budgets, availability of supplies, and technical knowledge gaps make sustainability challenging. Splash is addressing these challenges by utilizing locally-made parts or working with governments to build up local manufacturing, training school staff on systems operation and maintenance, and advocating for WASH budget allocations.
Schools receive an initial supply of spare parts, and Splash offers technical assistance for two years after installation. Additionally, water quality is tested routinely to ensure safety.
4. Creating Lasting Change (and Getting Out of the Way)
True sustainability comes when local communities and governments own and manage WASH solutions. Splash works directly with local stakeholders to ensure that WASH projects are maintained for the long term. Critical to our success is that, upon completion, our services are no longer needed. We want to assure an affordable, imitable, and scalable solution set that can meet the needs of any city, anywhere – without Splash leading the work.
A path forward: Scaling WASH solutions for a water-secure future
Despite the challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, and infrastructure gaps, there is hope. Governments and organizations worldwide are recognizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based solutions in addressing the water crisis.
Splash’s success demonstrates that scalable, cost-effective solutions are possible. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, local partnerships, and long-term sustainability strategies, Splash is proving that safe water and sanitation can be a reality for children everywhere.
Splash believes every child deserves access to safe water, clean toilets, and proper hygiene facilities. With increased investment and widespread adoption of proven solutions, we can achieve a future where no child has to drink unsafe water or go without proper sanitation.
How you can be part of the solution
The global water crisis is urgent, but solutions exist. Join us in supporting organizations like Splash to bring clean water and sanitation to children in urban poverty. By advocating for policy change, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and raising awareness, we can all play a role in ensuring that safe water and sanitation become a reality for everyone.
