What if the world saw people living in poverty not merely as recipients of aid, but as catalysts for change? What if the most disadvantaged were actually empowered to be the change makers to better their own lives, thus freeing them to achieve their full potential?

Access to safe water is a conduit to help people achieve their full potential. But, access to safe water can be expensive when you are a poor family living below the poverty line in India. Families pay 5 to 10 times what others may pay who live above the poverty line. It is in this juxtaposition that we understand why some may be prohibited from achieving much more than survival. And, it is why Water.org is connecting with institutions in India to bring solutions to meet the water and sanitation needs of poor families.

Water.org views all people as having the potential to be catalysts for change – to be part of their own solution. Water.org has found that when given a choice and an opportunity to pay for water and sanitation improvements over a reasonable period of time, families living at the base of the economic pyramid opt to finance long-term solutions versus pay high prices for, or struggle day-to-day, to get that next liter of water.

This is why Water.org developed the solution known as WaterCredit. This solution removes the financial barriers that separate people from getting access to water through small, affordable loans for needed water and sanitation solutions at home. We are working with some of the largest financial institutions in India to make these loans available, thus allowing people to move beyond struggling to access basic resources like water, and empower them to achieve more in life.