Water: Improving water security
Photo credit from the Swarovski Foundation Waterschool
Access to safe drinking water is essential to life — yet billions of people around the world still live without it. The consequences extend far beyond health, limiting education, economic opportunity, and equality. Water is also a vital resource for global productivity: an estimated 78% of jobs depend on water, with 42% significantly reliant on it (World Bank, 2024).
Through our Water efforts, the Swarovski Foundation is committed to improving water security as a cornerstone for sustainable livelihoods and resilient and inclusive communities — a priority since our first grants were made.
We collaborate with trusted partners and lead initiatives such as the Waterschool to address inequalities by providing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and education in underserved schools and communities. These efforts remove barriers to education — particularly for girls — by improving better health, increasing school attendance, and strengthening educational outcomes.
Beyond water access, we invest in partnerships that combine education with practical opportunities, empowering individuals — especially young people and women — with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the blue and green economies. This approach not only strengthens local resilience, but also contributes to global sustainability efforts, opening pathways to meaningful careers and long-term economic security.
Image: National Park Hohe Tauern
Swarovski Foundation Waterschool is a global initiative designed to educate young people and their communities on sustainable practices to address their local water challenges and improve water security globally.
Partners
Conservation International
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of people, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in South Africa, delivers water literacy and ecosystem restoration—empowering women and young people to safeguard springs, improve hygiene, and lead community water governance.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
IHE Delft empowers future water leaders, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in the Netherlands, provides full MSc scholarships to emerging professionals from the Global South—building expertise in water management, sanitation, and climate resilience to drive sustainable change in their home countries.
National Great Rivers Research and Education Center
The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is a leading U.S. institution dedicated to advancing understanding of large river systems, their watersheds, and the communities that rely on them.
Waterschool Partners
fans&friends National Park Hohe Tauern
National Park Hohe Tauern promotes water literacy and environmental responsibility, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in Austria, delivers dual-teaching sessions and ranger-led excursions—connecting students to alpine ecosystems and fostering sustainable water stewardship.
Foundation for Amazon Sustainability (Fundação Amazônia Sustentável)
Fundação Amazônia Sustentável promotes sustainable development in the Amazon, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in Brazil, expands the Escola D’Água programme—combining water education, WASH infrastructure, and youth empowerment to strengthen community resilience and protect the forest.
charity:water
charity: water works to end the global water crisis, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in Kenya and Uganda, is delivering sustainable WASH solutions in schools—combining clean water access, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to unlock student potential and improve community health.
