History of A Single Drop
ASD Milestones
- Feb 2004 - A Single Drop is founded
- Sept 21, 2004 - The first Million Voice Choir is mobilized and over 100 cities in over 60 countries sing WE RISE
- April 2005- ASD co-sponsors "Bridging the Water Gap" International Water Conference with Aqua Essence ReSource
- Aug 2005 - Gemma wins the Queen Latifah for Cover Girl CG Vibes Award
- June 2006- A Single Drop offers it's first technology trainings in the Philippines
- Sept 2006 - A Single Drop for SafeWater Philippines office is opened
- May 2007 - In ASDSW first 7 months over 16,000 people have been provided safewater
- July 2007 - Gemma and Kevin Lee are named one of the "Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs of 2007" by Echoing Green Foundation
- May 2008 - Over 25,000 people have access to safewater since ASDSWs inception
- June 2008 - ASD co-sponsors the African Women and Water Conference in Nairobi assisting 30 women from 6 countries launch water service projects
- April 2009 - Over 38,500 have access to improved water in eight countries
It takes a single drop of water to start a wave...
It's hard to believe that this whole mission to bring safe water to all people started with A SONG!
Gemma Bulos, ASD Founder, who was meant to be in the World Trade Center on 9/11, responded by composing “WE RISE”, a world peace anthem that uses water as a metaphor for unity in action. Based on the concept that "it takes A Single Drop of water to start a wave", in 2004, her landmark project “The Million Voice Choir” was the first drop of action in ASDs evolution. ASD mobilizes voices from around the planet annually to bridge cultures worldwide to sing, “We Rise”, to raise awareness of global water issues and promote water as a source of peace and equality. This annual songfest creates a worldwide experience for people to see and feel the magnitude of a simple action as it's effects ripple outward.
In the Fall of 2005, Gemma received the Queen Latifah for Cover Girl CG Vibes Award for women who are changing the world through music. Gemma believed that creating the "Choir" was not enough to have a significant impact, and contemplated how peace would look like on the ground. She applied all of her award money towards starting water projects in the Philippines.
In 2006, ASD expanded it's scope and opened a sister office in the Philippines called A Single Drop for SafeWater (ASDSW). ASD seeded ASDSW to be the incubator for our award-winning Water PODS Sustainability Program which is being replicated all over the country. In less than three years, under the leadership and determination of Kevin Lee, ASDSW has helped provide over 30,000 Filipinos with access to improved water.
In 2008, ASD expanded our Women Water Keeper Program into Africa spearheaded by Mariah Klingsmith, working specifically with women and female youth to provide them with the skills to provide sustainable water services to their community. Women and girls are the most burdened from the lack of access to water as they are the primary water carriers and caretakers of the family. She spearheaded the follow-up visits and conducted refresher trainings for the Africa Women and Water Conference participants.
At the end of 2008, A Single Drop continues to grow and now supports projects in the Philippines and seven countries in Africa. In the Summer of 2009, ASD will support local initiatives in the United States to introduce sustainable technologies that address greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting and composting toilets.
