Stockholm, Sweden, August 27, 2004: The Water for All organization, founded to bring water to drought-prone areas of the world, celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. Through the support of water well drilling and digging projects, fresh water has been provided to close to half a million people.<BR>
Atlas Copco’s Water for All celebrates 20 years
August 27, 2004
Water for All has so far successfully supported projects to drill or dig for water in, for example, Peru, Kenya, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan, India, and Colombia. In total approximately 1 500 wells have been developed during the past 20 years in cooperation with non-political aid organizations with local experience in the relevant countries. On a voluntary basis, Atlas Copco employees in Sweden have both been funding and running Water for All. Their donations are matched by the Atlas Copco Group and further enhanced by international aid organizations, in particular SIDA, the Swedish International Development Cooperation agency.
“At Atlas Copco we are very proud of Water for All and its achievements,” says Heidi Oram, Vice President Public Affairs, Atlas Copco AB. “The plan ahead is to expand the Water for All membership further, so that eventually all employees who want to, regardless of their location, will be able to help needy communities get access to clean drinking water.”
The Water for All association was initiated in 1984 by two employees of Atlas Copco in Sweden. The idea developed after a visit to Peru, where people suffered from the prevailing drought. Together they organized ways to collect and offer financial support to water drilling or digging projects. The fact that Atlas Copco had equipment and knowledge suitable for this purpose was a clear advantage to get the organization off the ground.
For further information please contact:
Heidi Oram, Vice President Public Affairs, Atlas Copco AB
+46 8 743 9057 or +44 7971 650 520
Annika Berglund, SVP Communications, Atlas Copco AB
+46 70 322 8070
“At Atlas Copco we are very proud of Water for All and its achievements,” says Heidi Oram, Vice President Public Affairs, Atlas Copco AB. “The plan ahead is to expand the Water for All membership further, so that eventually all employees who want to, regardless of their location, will be able to help needy communities get access to clean drinking water.”
The Water for All association was initiated in 1984 by two employees of Atlas Copco in Sweden. The idea developed after a visit to Peru, where people suffered from the prevailing drought. Together they organized ways to collect and offer financial support to water drilling or digging projects. The fact that Atlas Copco had equipment and knowledge suitable for this purpose was a clear advantage to get the organization off the ground.
For further information please contact:
Heidi Oram, Vice President Public Affairs, Atlas Copco AB
+46 8 743 9057 or +44 7971 650 520
Annika Berglund, SVP Communications, Atlas Copco AB
+46 70 322 8070