Issue 2: July – August 2000

A British schoolgirl became the world’s youngest UN Goodwill Ambassador when she was appointed June 8 at the London launch of Water4Life, a UN University appeal to help address the world water crisis.

Laura Sweeting, 16, was given the role to help raise awareness that thousands of children – one every eight seconds – die daily due to unsafe water in developing countries.

Monies raised by the Water4Life campaign will be channelled by the UN University’s International Network on Water, Environment and Health to on-the-ground projects that reduce the threat of water-borne diseases and contaminated water worldwide.

Laura Sweeting - raising awareness about water

As Goodwill Ambassador, Laura will spend part of her summer holidays making personal appearances and giving press, radio & TV interviews as part of a nation-wide UK fund-raising campaign for the Water4Life appeal.

Laura’s school, Stanborough Secondary School in Watford, Hertfordshire, has already formed its own UN Assembly and enrolled 36 pupils, all of different nationalities, as members.

From a converted classroom with Internet, e-mail and fax facilities, pupils can contact other schools worldwide to raise awareness of water problems and promote fund-raising initiatives for the Water4Life Appeal.

Said Ralph Daley, Director of UNU / INWEH: "We chose Stanborough School to launch and help promote our world-wide campaign because of its unique international links, and because we believe the idea of children helping children to improve the world water crisis is an excellent, workable and worthwhile initiative."

According to UN statistics:

• 50 per cent of people in developing countries suffer from one or more water-related diseases

• 80 per cent of the diseases in the developing world are caused by contaminated water

• 50 per cent of people on earth lack adequate sanitation

"Not only is the toll a human tragedy, but it means that hundreds of millions of people are less able to carry on productive lives, and this severely undermines social and economic development," said Dr. Daley. He warned that unless action is stepped up soon the number of those who die from unsafe water is expected to escalate dramatically.

UK media coverage of the launch was strong, including four national newspapers and four newswires, as well as more than 30 national television and radio news broadcasts.

A number of UK firms have expressed interest in supporting the campaign, with commitments linked to product sales in excess of US$150,000 received in the first week of the campaign.

Public fund-raising through major social and sporting events will also occur over the summer.

• World Day for Water news release

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Revised: February 22, 2001