How To Change The World & Make An Impact! | Matt Damon & Gary White

The video is an interview with Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of water.org and water equity, discussing the global water crisis and their book "The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge."

The video features an interview with Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of water.org and water equity, discussing their book "The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge." They talk about the global water crisis and the daily struggle for 771 million people who don't have access to clean water. The water crisis affects their health, education, and employment opportunities. The interview aims to raise awareness about the issue and inspire people to take action.

• Matt Damon and Gary White co-founded water.org and water equity.
• They discuss the global water crisis and their book "The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge."
• The water crisis is a complex issue that is looming due to climate change.
• 771 million people around the world are already experiencing the crisis.
• Water.org and Water Equity create and execute market-driven solutions to the global water crisis.
• The book emphasizes the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the water crisis.
• Access to clean water is a basic human right and is essential for human dignity.
• Water.org and Water Equity are working to provide access to clean water and sanitation to millions of people around the world.
• They encourage individuals to take action in addressing the global water crisis, whether through donating to organizations like water.org or advocating for policy change.

How To Change The World & Make An Impact! | Matt Damon & Gary White - YouTube

Introduction

• The interview is with Matt Damon and Gary White, co-founders of water.org and water equity.
• They discuss the global water crisis and their book "The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge."
• The podcast is dedicated to making positive change in the world.

What is the Water Crisis?

• The water crisis is a complex issue that is looming due to climate change.
• 771 million people around the world are already experiencing the crisis.
• These people struggle daily to find water for their basic needs.
• They often have to buy water at inflated prices from urban slum vendors.
• The water crisis affects family health, education, and employment.

Water.org and Water Equity

• Gary White launched Water Partners in 1991, which is now known as Water.org.
• Water.org and Water Equity create and execute market-driven solutions to the global water crisis.
• Matt Damon founded H20 Africa Foundation in 2006 to raise awareness about water initiatives in Africa.
• Matt's active participation in the work of Water.org and Water Equity has positioned him as one of the world's experts on water and sanitation issues.
• Water.org and Water Equity drive innovations in the way water and sanitation projects are delivered and financed.

How To Change The World & Make An Impact! | Matt Damon & Gary White - YouTube

The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge

• The book discusses the journey of Water.org and Water Equity in finding solutions to the global water crisis.
• The book highlights the importance of market-driven solutions to the water crisis.
• The book emphasizes the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the water crisis.
• The book showcases success stories of Water.org and Water Equity in providing access to safe water and sanitation.
• The book aims to inspire readers to take action and make a positive impact on the world.

The Global Water Crisis

• Lack of access to clean water and sanitation causes needless disease and death.
• One million children under the age of five die every year from preventable illnesses.
• Women and girls are disproportionately affected and many girls are unable to attend school because they have to spend their time looking for water.
• Lack of access to clean water and sanitation robs people of their potential and affects their outcomes in life.
• Access to clean water underpins every issue of extreme poverty and touches all of them.

The Importance of Access to Clean Water

• Access to clean water is life and a shot at a better life.
• For many people, lack of access to clean water is the biggest obstacle to achieving their dreams and potential.
• Access to clean water is a basic human right and is essential for human dignity.
• Access to clean water is a fundamental building block for economic development and growth.
• Access to clean water is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Far-Reaching Effects of Lack of Access to Clean Water

• Lack of access to clean water affects every aspect of people's lives, including their economic space, home space, family, cooking, and feeding.
• Lack of access to clean water affects people's potential in ways that are incalculable.
• Lack of access to clean water is a vastly interesting and complex problem that underpins every issue of extreme poverty.
• Lack of access to clean water is a massive problem that needs urgent attention and action.
• Lack of access to clean water affects the most vulnerable populations, including women and children.

The Work of Water.org and Water Equity

• Water.org and Water Equity are working to provide access to clean water and sanitation to millions of people around the world.
• Water.org and Water Equity use innovative financing models to provide affordable and sustainable solutions to the global water crisis.
• Water.org and Water Equity work with local partners to ensure that solutions are tailored to the specific needs of each community.
• Water.org and Water Equity are committed to achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
• Water.org and Water Equity believe that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right and essential for achieving a more just and equitable world.

Personal Motivation

• Both Matt Damon and Gary White were motivated to take action after witnessing the global water crisis firsthand.
• Gary was moved by the sight of a girl collecting filthy water in Guatemala and the realization that millions of people were in similar situations.
• Matt was inspired to start building wells and providing direct aid to those in need.
• Both recognized the complexity of the issue but believed that taking action, even on a small scale, could make a difference.
• They emphasized the importance of having a clear end goal in mind and taking the problem one step at a time.

Chasing Solutions

• Gary recognized that philanthropy alone would not be enough to solve the water crisis.
• He traveled and met with women in India who were taking out loans at exorbitant rates to pay for water connections.
• He developed the idea of water credit, which would provide small loans to individuals to help them access safe water solutions.
• They emphasized the importance of innovation and tenacity in finding solutions to seemingly intractable social problems.
• They acknowledged the role of failure in the learning process and the importance of not being afraid to take risks.

The Worth of Water

• The book chronicles their journey in founding water.org and water equity and their efforts to address the global water crisis.
• They discuss the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned along the way.
• They emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving their goals.
• They highlight the impact of their work, including providing access to safe water and sanitation solutions to millions of people.
• They stress the ongoing need for continued action and investment in addressing the water crisis.

Call to Action

• They encourage individuals to take action in addressing the global water crisis, whether through donating to organizations like water.org or advocating for policy change.
• They emphasize the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of global issues and the need for collective action.
• They stress the potential for individuals to make a difference, even on a small scale.
• They call on individuals to be informed and engaged in addressing social and environmental issues.
• They express hope for the future and the potential for continued progress in addressing the global water crisis.

Insight into Water Crisis

• People in poorest communities pay for water they don't have access to infrastructure.
• Loans could be paid back easily, and 43.7 million people have paid back loans at over 99%.
• Over 90% of borrowers are women.
• Water.org is trying to bring the story of these women and their heroic efforts to light.
• Water.org is not paternalistic but listens to communities and nudges the market towards people.

Impact on Girls and Women

• Girls and women are charged with collecting water for their households around the world.
• More than 85% of the borrowers under Water Credit program are women.
• Women have more incentive to ensure that something gets repaired if it breaks down.
• Water projects often fail after five years, but Water Credit provides access to finance for water and sanitation.
• Water.org sees people living in poverty as a market to be served, not a charity problem to be solved.

Empowering Communities

• Water.org nudges the market towards the poor to make it work.
• Water.org helps microfinance institutions to de-risk loans for water and toilets.
• Water.org uses philanthropic capital to help institutions do market research and design loan products.
• Water.org has partnered with microfinance institutions around the world to make 43 million loans.
• Water.org empowers communities to solve their own problems and feel empowered in the process.

Real-Life Story

• A woman in the Philippines named Lynn Ariza was paying $60 a month to a water vendor for low-quality water.
• She took out a loan from one of Water.org's partners and now pays $5 a month for water.
• She has $50 extra each month, which can be used for her family's needs.
• Water Credit provides a solution to the water crisis and empowers communities to solve their own problems.
• Water Credit is not about throwing money at the problem but giving people the tools and skills to solve their challenges.

Watch the video on YouTube:
How To Change The World & Make An Impact! | Matt Damon & Gary White - YouTube