With our "Source of Life" campaign and our limited edition T-shirt, we are currently supporting water projects of the organization Viva con Agua. But what exactly does Viva con Agua do? How are the funds used? And what else can be done to save water or to contribute? We, Christina and Jana from camel active, visited Villa Viva Hamburg and met Johannes from Viva con Agua.
Johannes, responsible for Marketing and Fundraising, provided us with profound insights into the diversity and significance of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects that Viva con Agua supports in various parts of the world. Additionally, he took ample time to answer all our questions and to impart some final thoughts to our community.
Christina
"Hi, I'm thrilled that we're allowed to be here. I'm Christina, Head of E-Commerce at camel active, and this is Jana, our Content Manager. We're here today because we've released our Limited Edition T-Shirt, and we thought we'd tell the community a bit about what you do and which projects you're promoting."
Johannes
"Certainly. Glad you're here, here at Villa Viva in Hamburg, our new headquarter. I'm Johannes, I handle the marketing and fundraising for Viva con Agua and am responsible for acquiring the funds from which we then carry out water projects. Currently, in eight different countries."
Behind the scenes
Christina
"What kind of projects are you currently managing, or where do the proceeds from our T-shirt sales go?"
Johannes
"The proceeds go into what we call WASH projects. That stands for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Why do we need water, sanitation, and hygiene projects simultaneously? It's relatively simple. I can build the most beautiful well in the world, but if I don't have a toilet, my groundwater is contaminated, and if I don't know that I need to wash my hands, then I don't have clean drinking water.
That's why it's always in this triad of water, sanitation, and hygiene. And that's what we promote and partly implement ourselves. We do this especially in East Africa, South Africa, Nepal, and India - for the simple reason that the drinking water situation there is the most challenging worldwide."
Christina
"You've really grown a lot and achieved a lot by now. Could you tell us a bit about how it all started back then? What was the initial idea, and how did it all begin?"
Johannes
"The initial story is a bit unusual for a non-profit organization. Our founder, Benjamin Adrion, used to play football for FC St. Pauli about 18 years ago. The team was on a training camp in Cuba, training there, enjoying the nice weather, beautiful pitches, and having a good time. At the same time, Benni noticed that in the surrounding kindergartens, dirty water had to be boiled for the children because there was no clean drinking water. Back in Hamburg, he thought something had to be done about it and used the creative network around FC St. Pauli to collect donations with fun and joy.
It started with people like Fettes Brot or Bela B, who were sitting in the stands at St. Pauli as fans. He asked if they would like to donate some of their concert earnings. Or he asked his teammates if they would like to sing Christmas carols, and the fans paid for it. And so, he quickly raised more money than he actually needed for these water dispensers in the kindergartens in Cuba. From that, the idea for Viva con Agua emerged organically - to move something good with fun and joy. Hence, the Spanish spelling for "Agua."
Christina
"And what happened next?"
Johannes
"Then, for four years, we were mainly just a non-profit organization, in quotation marks, that organized parties and other creative events with fun and joy to raise donations. In 2010, the mineral water came into play. The idea behind it is relatively simple. We wanted a second pillar alongside fundraising, through which we could acquire funds for further water projects. We wanted to associate everyday products with a social purpose. So, you take an everyday product like mineral water, which fits very well with water projects, sell it at the same price as other providers, and channel a portion of the profits into social projects. That was the birth of Viva con Agua water, both sparkling and still.
Goldeimer came next. They provide compost toilets at festivals, offering a social and ecological alternative to port-a-potties. Then came the Millerntor Gallery, which is a street art, art, and culture festival held at the FC St. Pauli stadium and now attracts about 18,000 to 20,000 visitors annually. And then many other stories and ideas, until we arrived here at Villa Viva in Hamburg, a hotel with a social purpose that also generates profits, some of which are reinvested in WASH projects. It's important to mention that Viva con Agua never uses donations for its social business ideas. Those are designated for the organization's project work, while social investors like Jan Delay or Bela B assist with business ideas, such as with Villa Viva here."
Christina
"By the way, this place has turned out really nice, like a really great base here in Hamburg. Where was the first, the original house again?"
Johannes
"Exactly, the original Villa Viva idea originated in Cape Town. So, in Cape Town, you'll find Villa Viva Cape Town, which is actually a converted backpacker hostel. And that was kind of our proof of concept that you can create a social hotel that generates funds for water projects."
Cape Town
Christina
"So the Viva con Agua family keeps growing and getting bigger. Do you already have any big new plans for the future that you can share?"
Johannes
"Well, yes, there will definitely be more. In February, we launched a tap water carbonator, together with Brita. It's the most environmentally friendly way to drink water, and companies can now have them in their offices. So, alongside mineral water, we now offer a tap water option and are very proud of this development. In addition to that, there will definitely be more than just this Villa Viva. Let's wait and see..."
Christina
"World Water Day was just on March 22, 2024. It's a special day for you, where you have a strong presence. We also dropped our limited Water-Shirt on that day. It has 'Water - Source of Life' printed on the back. But what does water actually mean to you?"
Johannes
"I believe the saying captures it quite well. For us, World Water Day always revolves around the theme of the campaign 'Water is a Human Right.' According to the UN, access to water is a human right. SDG6 states that by 2030, everyone worldwide should have access to clean drinking water. We may not achieve that, but the path is at least there, and we want to continue moving forward. What you have on your shirt, 'Water - Source of Life,' that's the baseline for everything else. If I don't have clean drinking water, I get sick or die. It's as simple as that. Drinking dirty water also makes me sick.
And if I have to spend hours every day fetching water, on average three hours walking to get water from somewhere, perhaps even from an unsafe source, then I have no time for anything else. I can't go to school, I can't tend to my fields, I can't build my business, and I can't build a livable life. That's why engaging with the water issue is so important for us. We want to show that water is more than just a resource. Water is the source of life that we all need. If we establish this baseline for all people, then other important and good things will emerge. We unlock potentials because if I no longer have to spend four hours a day fetching water, I have time to build a livable life."
Christina
"That's a pretty good summary, I think, and it's something we should remind ourselves of more often. If someone now says, okay, I wasn't aware of this, I'd like to do something to help, can they maybe get involved with you? How can one support, in what form?"
Johannes
"The simplest direct support is always a donation for water projects. From that, we can directly enable access to clean drinking water. However, the idea at Viva con Agua has always been to make this as low-threshold as possible. Therefore, it's important to emphasize that every contribution helps. Additionally, we're happy when people want to get active and volunteer. Currently, summer is approaching, and with it, our well-known deposit cup collections at music festivals. These actions are at the core of Viva con Agua's All-Profit concept. Festival organizers provide tickets that we can pass on to our volunteers.
So, if you want to have a good time at festivals and also do something meaningful, you're welcome to join us in collecting deposit cups. Festival-goers throw their cups into the bins with a lot of joy, and it's the most joyful way to collect donations for water projects. At the end of such a festival, a lot of money comes together for water projects. Deposit cups at festivals are, so to speak, the basic idea of Viva con Agua: have fun and get involved so that in the end, money is raised for water projects. If you're interested in participating, on our website, there's a section called 'Get involved.' There you'll find all the information you need."
Christina
"Awesome. Really great idea. But if someone isn't really the festival type and rather says, I want to do something at home, not necessarily with you, but I just want to do something in general to save water, what can they do?"
Johannes
"I believe the most important thing is the conscious handling of water. What we often overlook is the water footprint in everything we have and consume. Whether it's clothes with a water footprint, or beef, which has a tremendous footprint, as well as coffee or IT products. In the end, everything has a water footprint.
And this conscious living, the conscious handling of resources, is actually what we can always do. Just becoming aware of the resources behind what we constantly consume."
Christina
"Now, with our T-shirt , we've also made a small statement. But aside from the sustainable spirit - how do you like the T-shirt?"
Johannes
"Interestingly, I showed it to a few people in our office. Everyone loved it. So, we'll have to see who we can hand the T-shirt you brought us today to. I think there will be a few takers who would like to have it. I think it's nice. But the backprint and the statement are what really matter, and that's really, really cool."
Christina
"If we're talking about meaningful statements, I'd like to choose my final question for our interview. What message would you like to leave with our community?"
Johannes
"Have fun with what you do, and yet be mindful of how you interact with nature and what this world gives us. I believe finding the balance is what it's all about."
With new projects and the expansion of the Villa Viva Hotels, the organization continues its mission not only to raise funds for water projects but also to raise awareness about responsible water resource management. Johannes encourages anyone who wants to make a contribution to get involved - whether through donations or volunteering. Because at Viva con Agua, everyone who enjoys doing good is welcome.
The discussion about water consumption and the environmental impact of the fashion industry shows that sustainability plays a role in every sector. This is particularly important to us at camel active.
We strive every day to do a bit more for the world and take an important step towards more water-efficient production with the new EIM standard. Our visit to Viva con Agua has not only inspired us but also shown us how important it is to stand up with joy and commitment for a better world.
