Small Actions, Big Ripples: The Year In Impact Work So Far

At LifeStraw, our mission is simple: to ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to safe water. That mission comes to life not only through our products and programs, but also through the dedication of people - our staff, our partners, our volunteers, and the communities we serve. This is human-powered work, and it is people who make our impact possible.

While the full picture of our 2025 impact will be shared in our Impact Report early in 2026, we’re excited to share a few highlights from the past few months that we’re especially proud of.

Power through Partners

None of LifeStraw’s impact happens in isolation. Our progress is powered by the partnerships we build - with nonprofits, schools, governments, and community organizations who share our vision of safe water and healthier futures. Together, we combine resources, expertise, and local knowledge to reach more people than we ever could alone.

In the sections ahead, we’re proud to highlight some of the incredible partners who have walked alongside us in recent months to make this work possible.

AguaEmpowers

In partnership with AguaEmpowers, LifeStraw delivered 200 water filtration kits to The School of St. Jude in Tanzania, ensuring students and their families have reliable access to safe water. The project mobilized 70 volunteers in California to assemble kits and include handwritten notes of encouragement in Swahili, creating a human connection across continents.

Together, the effort is providing safe drinking water for 200 families over five years - helping reduce illness, keep children in school, and strengthen communities.

Global Refuge

In Guatemala and Mexico, Global Refuge’s Camino a Casa program helps returning and newly arrived youth rebuild their lives through education, job training, and medical and psychosocial support. Geographic isolation often makes delivering these services—and safe water - a challenge, but dedicated staff travel hours to reach families in need.

With support from LifeStraw, which provides personal water filters for clients, the program has already served more than 2,750 participants in 2025, ensuring that young people and their families not only have access to essential services but also the safe water they need to thrive.

Haiti Outreach - Pwoje Espwa (H.O.P.E.)

When a surge in water-borne illness hit northern Haiti, a network of partners mobilized quickly. With leadership from Doc Thony of Alliance Santé Borgne and the team at H.O.P.E., LifeStraw products were hand-delivered through a chain of colleagues and friends spanning the U.S., Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

This behind-the-scenes collaboration ensured supplies reached clinics within days, supporting H.O.P.E.’s community-led health strategy, Sante Nan Lakou. The result: critical safe water tools in the hands of local health workers, right when they were needed most.

Western Maryland Flood Response

In May 2025, heavy rainfall caused devastating flooding across western Maryland, washing out roads, damaging homes, and disrupting essential services in Allegany County and beyond. As local and state agencies mobilized to respond, access to safe water quickly became a pressing need.

In partnership with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, LifeStraw provided LifeStraw Home pitchers and dispensers to support 1,000 people affected by the floods. These tools helped ensure that families and first responders had reliable access to safe water during the immediate recovery period - reinforcing our commitment to act swiftly when crises hit close to home.

Black Girls Hike

This summer, LifeStraw donated 64 Go Series bottles to Black Girls Hike, a Baltimore-based organization dedicated to empowering Black women and girls to connect with nature, build community, and reclaim joy in the outdoors. Their mission - to create safe, inclusive, and affirming spaces in the natural world - mirrors our own belief that access, whether to safe water or outdoor spaces, should never be a privilege.

As proud members of the Outdoor Industry Association, LifeStraw shares in the collective commitment to advancing equity and sustainability across outdoor recreation. Supporting groups like Black Girls Hike reflects our values of inclusion, stewardship, and community - ensuring that everyone can experience the health, confidence, and connection that come from spending time outside.

Nuestra Casa

In East Palo Alto, California, Nuestra Casa is leading the charge for environmental justice and public health, empowering residents to advocate for cleaner air, safer water, and equitable community development. Many families in the region face ongoing water quality challenges tied to aging infrastructure and groundwater contamination — issues that have long underscored inequities in access to safe water.

To support their work, LifeStraw donated Home Water Filter Pitchers to Nuestra Casa, helping provide reliable, affordable safe water for local households. These filters not only safeguard health but also ease the financial burden on families who have relied on bottled water for years.

Nuestra Casa’s community-centered approach - combining advocacy, education, and direct service - exemplifies how lasting change begins at the local level. We’re proud to stand alongside them in advancing health, dignity, and environmental equity for all.

Volunteerism as a Value: Our Teams in Action

Behind every product and every program are dedicated people - and many of them give their time far beyond their day jobs. Over the past few months, LifeStraw employees have stepped into classrooms, community centers, and field programs to share their skills, distribute safe water solutions, and support local partners. These volunteer hours are a powerful reminder that our impact doesn’t only come from our global programs but also from the hands and hearts of our staff who choose to go the extra mile.

Kenya

As part of the LifeStraw Give Back Program, our team partnered with Mradi Halisi Afrika to bring health education, WASH messaging, and heartfelt support to WIRE Special School, home to 67 children with mental challenges. The day included retraining staff on LifeStraw water filters, interactive hygiene sessions for pupils, and donations of sanitary products, clothing, foodstuffs, and over 100 tree seedlings.

Beyond the practical support, the visit was filled with poetry, dance, shared meals, and handmade gifts from students — a true celebration of dignity, inclusion, and community.

Vietnam

The LifeStraw Vietnam team recently launched a “21 Days Eco Journey” challenge with three actions: reducing nylon bags, commuting green, and recycling used cooking oil. Over three weeks, the team saved 510 plastic bags, logged 3,025 km of eco-friendly commuting, and collected 29 liters of cooking oil for recycling. Along the way, team members shared creative green living tips — from banana leaf packaging to bringing personal containers — and even discovered new daily habits, from bus-riding to walking, that continue beyond the challenge.

USA

In partnership with Blue Water Baltimore, Tree Baltimore, and Patagonia, the LifeStraw team joined more than 50 local volunteers for a cleanup along the Gwynns Falls trail in Leakin Park - the second-largest woodland park in the U.S. Together, we pulled over 40 bags of trash from local waterways, helping protect the Chesapeake Bay. The day included a “walk-and-talk” on water testing and park stewardship, hands-on cleanup, and a community gathering to celebrate collective action for a healthier environment.

Looking Ahead: Expanding SafiCycle

This November, we’re thrilled to launch the next round of SafiCycle, our menstrual health program in Kenya. An additional 3,000 girls will join the program, gaining access to reusable menstrual products, health education, and ongoing support. This expansion builds on our commitment to reach 100,000 girls over the next five years. To learn more about the program and its impact, check out our recent blog post on SafiCycle.

More to Come

From groundbreaking partnerships to innovative ways our institutional sales team is driving safe water access, there’s so much more we’re eager to share. In the sections ahead, we’ll highlight:

• Institutional Sales Impact – how our partnerships with schools, NGOs, and governments are scaling safe water access.

• Volunteer Highlights – a look at the inspiring ways our employees are making a difference through the giving season around the world.

• SafiCycle 2025 Implementation – hold this space for a look at how our team in Kenya brought SafiCycle to 3,000 more girls this November.

And don't forget! Our 2025 Impact Report will take a comprehensive look at the progress, partnerships, and people powering our mission - look for that in early 2026!