World We Dare To Imagine Part 3

World We Dare To Imagine

ABOUT US

Currently, more than three billion worldwide are impoverished, living under two dollars a day and aid to remedy these low poverty levels has been costly, challenging, and difficult for many national governments and the international system.

My company Women 4 Water is here to adjust that. Women 4 Water is devoted to helping the global community reduce poverty levels by providing access to clean, filtered water, but is also dedicated to creating economic opportunities for women across the world. I have a passion for sustainability and equality, and my company has allowed me to create an initiative that combines two of these ideas. I also believe that access to clean water is a human right. With Women for Water, women in Mali/Sub-Saharan Africa will have an employment opportunity that can help them end their cycle of poverty, while Mali citizens will have ample access to clean water.

MISSION OF ORGANIZATION

Water is a key factor in the Poverty Trap and more than 1 billion people lack clean water especially in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, but this can all be solved with my company. Women 4 Water provides cheap and accessible water purifiers for those in need in order remedy poverty by stopping the spread of waterborne illnesses. Unlike many modern water filters, the kiln base of the filter can last for years, rather than for months, making it a much more practical solution.

The Women 4 Water purifiers are ceramic filters that can be easily constructed. To build them, we will construct a miniature factory based around a kiln. By mixing clay and sawdust/other organic materials we will create pots with small holes that emerge when the kiln’s firing process burns out the sawdust within the clay. Water poured into these pots trap harmful particles in these holes.

BUSINESS MODEL

Women 4 Water centered on employing women in severely impoverished communities to assemble our product. Water filters will be used to alleviate water poor areas in Mali. My business model is to purchase raw material in Mali, manufacture filters locally with mainly vulnerable female labor, sell product with large quantity to NGOs then ship the product directly to the countries or governments they wish to deliver. These filters will be exported and sold to NGOs and charitable organizations at $1 each, a significant markup from the estimated 30 cents it costs to produce. Our filter will be the NGOs best choice because it will not only be the most cost effective water filtering solution on the market, but it will also support impoverished women and their communities.

With our profits, we plan to reinvest in more targeted impoverished communities, streamline our filter design, expand distribution to NGOs and charitable organizations, and focusing on investing in communities. We give out low cost clean filtered water to local people. When production reaches an optimal rate. Our working filter model is a rough one, but through more research and development, we hope to make a streamlined filter to allow for easier assembly and greater durability and longevity. We also plan to apply for design and utility patents to ensure that our product can stay competitive in the market.

UNIQUENESS OF COMPANY

As mentioned before, our product targets the two main causes of poverty within Sub-Saharan Africa: access to clean water and lack of employment opportunities. With these two resources, people will be able to obtain jobs, ultimately reducing the level of poverty and there aren’t many companies that are simultaneously targeting these two things. Additionally, the materials used to create our products are the raw and natural materials and they’re also easy low cost commodities. This will also allow our products to be sold at a reasonable price point to those in affected communities. And typically, this inexpensive element of my company is not easy to come by for others.

What also is unique about my company is that it works with the USC Marshall School of Business to ensure it that it’s continuously running smoothly and maintains sustainability. My company is a social enterprise and it would peak the interests of students that are passionate about initiatives and organizations that apply commercial strategies to maximize improvements in financial, social and environmental well-being. For this partnership with Women 4 Water and Marshall students, I am looking to create a course at USC that studies different social enterprises and throughout the semester, the students will work with business partners and leaders of Women for Water to work on the company’s ins and outs and to further improve our business model and feasibility.

WHY INVEST?

For AMDP to invest, we are seeking a $40,000 investment for our social business. AMDP should invest in my company because it’s making an impact and at a very low cost. At Women for Water, I am looking to change women’s and Sub-Saharan African’s lives…one drop at a time and AMDP should join us!