Armani’s Acqua for Life
empowering communities by developing access to drinking water
Water is one of the most important elements on earth, as it creates life. It is a fundamental truth that everything begins with water, as no one can live without. Alongside being a vital element, water empowers lives. Today, more than 2 billion people lack access to a safely managed water supply and 1 in 10 do not have access to clean water close to home. By 2025, it is estimated that half of the world’s population could be living in water-stressed areas.
"Water is definitely the element I feel most connected to. For me, water represents life and regeneration, but also peace and serenity. Access to drinking water is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century."
It Begins With Water
The United Nations recognized access to water and sanitation as a human right in 2010. Since then, Acqua for Life, Armani’s global water initiative focusing on universal access to drinking water in water-scarce regions, has helped over 590,000 people and has invested more than 14 million euros in water projects in 23 countries. By 2030 Armani’s Acqua for Life aims to be a source of clean water for 1 million people.
Acqua for Life's actions have been conceived with a global approach in mind. The main objective is to improve access to drinking water in regions where the resource is more scarce, but also to take into account related problems, such as sanitation and hygiene. Projects activities include the installation of water points, latrines, rainwater collection systems, filtration, and water purification.
Beyond this commitment to developing universal access to drinking water, the Acqua for Life initiative strives to have a positive socio-economic impact on communities' health and livelihood. This involves educating local communities and raising awareness about the recommendations of the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) program.
It also involves training the communities to allow them to continue maintaining the facilities independently beyond the three years of support offered by the Acqua for Life program.
“Before the tap came, we would fetch water from a distant source, and we were very tired. Now that there is a tap, I don't have to walk as far, I'm not as tired, and I'm doing better at school.” Sarobidy, 9, Madagascar
Be A Source
Partners for sustainable futures
To support its commitment, Acqua for Life collaborates with two main partners: WaterAid and Water.org. In collaboration with them, Acqua for Life projects are selected after a thorough evaluation process. Acqua for Life evaluates the condition of water resources in the community or country concerned, looking at water shortages today, water projections for 2040 and the financial situation of the country or community. The same requirement applies to the partners that the program relies upon.
In 2018, Acqua for Life selected WaterAid to join its existing partners, in light of WaterAid’s technical expertise in the WASH sector. WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere, within a generation, and is currently working across 28 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalized people. In addition, WaterAid has a global presence, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the water crisis around the world. Between 2021 and 2024, the Acqua for Life initiative is supporting six WaterAid projects focusing on schools and health care facilities in India, Madagascar, Malawi, Nicaragua, South Africa and Uganda.
In 2020 Acqua for Life joined forces with Water.org, a global non-profit organization that helps people get access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing, such as small loans. One of the major barriers to safe water and sanitation is affordable financing. As an answer Water.org, via its WaterCredit Initiative®, helps bring small loans to those who need access to affordable financing and expert resources to make household water and toilet solutions a reality. Communities can access financing, take control of their future, and break down the barriers to safe water and sanitation. These solutions last because communities have a personal investment to see them through, as well as access to financing to make repairs over time as needed.With more than 25 years of experience and insight, Water.org uses market-driven financial solutions to transform lives with the mission of ending the global water crisis. To date, Water.org has empowered more than 30 million people worldwide with access to safe water and sanitation.
In partnership with Acqua for Life, Water.org is working to transform the lives of 85,000 people in Tanzania with access to safe water and sanitation.
Water Empowers Lives
In 2022, Armani, captured the stories of people within communities which have been supported by the Acqua for Life programs in partnership with WaterAid. For Acqua for Life, Ernest Randriarimalala and Mani Karmacharya, from Madagascar and Nepal respectively, have photographed a series of portraits of those who live there and on the concrete impact that Acqua for Life projects have had on them.
Through each photographer’s lens, they convey the transformative impact that clean water has on people’s daily lives. Their authentic, transparent, and optimistic portraits unveil how water allows people to flourish and illustrate the intrinsic connection between water and life.
“Before the arrival of the tap, we had to use dirty water, even for drinking. Now that we have got clean water, it is a real blessing. I believe the world needs to know that our community is grateful and feels blessed by accessing clean water. And people worldwide must understand that water is a necessity.” Martin, 67, Madagascar