LifeStraw, the US-based developer of portable water filtration systems, has published updated figures on its global humanitarian programs, reporting that its Give Back initiative has now provided over 11.8 million children with a year’s access to safe drinking water. Through the sale of consumer filters, the company funds long-term access to clean water for schools in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, India and Haiti. In 2024 alone, the program supported over 161,000 children and expanded into new regions, including Ethiopia.
Beyond filtration, LifeStraw continues to broaden its impact through initiatives like SafiCycle, a menstrual health and education program in western Kenya. SafiCycle targets the barriers that menstruation can create for girls’ education and safety – offering access to sanitary products, health training and support networks to combat stigma and exploitation. The program aims to protect health and restore dignity while improving attendance and performance in school.
LifeStraw’s origins lie in public health: the brand was launched in 2005 to filter contaminated water after natural disasters and was earlier involved in eradicating Guinea worm disease in partnership with the Carter Center. That initiative has helped reduce cases globally from 3.5 million in the 1980s to just 15 in 2024.
With its expanding geographic footprint and integrated community partnerships, LifeStraw positions itself as both a product innovator and a mission-driven actor in global health and development. More information is available in its 2024 Impact Report, available here.
