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Liberia. A Humanitarian First

For the first time In history, an entire country that did without now has clean water in even the most remote regions, border-to-border. Being able to reach this humanitarian milestone feels incredible. Thank you for your purchase, which makes this kind of significant, life-changing, history-making giving possible.

The use of Sawyer water filters was able to reduce diarrhea by over 90%.

Measurements include:

  • Diarrhea reduction
  • Work and school days recaptured associated with waterborne sickness
  • Purchased water savings and medical savings associated with waterborne sickness

BORDER-TO-BORDER

Reaching the corners of the rugged, West Africa nation took over a decade of scouting, methodical assessment, and determined ground teams. Discover the challenge and impact through the stories below.

Three children use a Sawyer filter as part of an international project.

Liberia

3.2 MILLION+ LIVES TRANSFORMED

On November 12th, history was made. In a multi-charity effort led by The Last Well, the final village in Liberia received Sawyer filters, marking the beginning of basic clean water access, border-to-border, for the entire nation.

Liberia is the first developing country in history to reach this achievement as described by UN Sustainability Goal #6, completely rewriting what’s possible for global humanitarian aid.

To understand the scale of its success, let’s take a look at The Liberia Project by the numbers:
·Years to complete: 12
·Wells drilled: 3,717
·Sawyer Filters donated: 130,000+
·Filter villages: 7,468
·Diarrhea reduction: 90%+
·Estimated lives saved: 150,000+
·Lives impacted: 3,200,000+

Though impressive, these metrics fall short in telling stories of life change. We are unable to quantify the complexity of reaching Liberia’s remote corners, just as it’s impossible to measure the kindled joy found in Liberian communities. For these things, we lean into stories, faces, and moments captured over the past 12 years.

95%

Waterborne Illness Reduction

2,000

Liters Filtered a Day

10+

Years Lifespan per System

with support from

A Group Photo Celebrating the Completion of the Liberia Project Which Brought Clean Water Access to All of Liberia

THE LIBERIA PROJECT RECAP

Travel to the jungles of West Africa to meet the Liberian communities, understand the critical need of clean water, and see the life-changing solutions at work for the first time.

A graphic with very dirty water filtering through a Sawyer bucket on left and a group of villagers on right

LIVES SAVED, COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMED.

Through new technology, research teams are collecting and processing data from 100,000+ filters, showing restored monetary income and diarrhea reduction by over 90%.

Read more about the clean water initiative
→
A graphic with very dirty water filtering through a Sawyer bucket on left and a group of villagers on right

PICARIDIN INSECT REPELLENT

Clean water for all →
Bottle of Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray

LIVES SAVED, COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMED.

Through new technology, research teams are collecting and processing data from 100,000+ filters, showing restored monetary income and diarrhea reduction by over 90%.

Shop Products
Clean water for all
→
How it happened:

INTERVIEW WITH ELIJAH HARLIE

Elijah Harlie was a project manager and key figure in the Liberia Project. What challenges did he face along the way? What did it look like to have a network of Liberians for the project?

MEET THE BUCKET SYSTEM
→
Elijah Harlie takes a selfie of himself and the team carrying buckets for clean water

INTERVIEW WITH ELIJAH HARLIE

Elijah Harlie was a project manager and key figure in the Liberia Project. What challenges did he face along the way? What did it look like to have a network of Liberians for the project?

Shop Products
Clean water for all
→
A graphic with very dirty water filtering through a Sawyer bucket on left and a group of villagers on right

PICARIDIN INSECT REPELLENT

Clean water for all →
Bottle of Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray

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A man ties buckets to his bike to transport on left and a canoe of men and women being pushed by a man down the river on right

REACHING THE UNREACHED

What does it take to reach every household in Liberia, even the last 20% everyone said was impossible to reach? Everything from long distance treks on foot to jungle bikes, ferries, and Land Cruisers.

Read the article
3 countries. 3 years. Marshall Islands Fiji and Solomon Islands text on photo of huts

THE FUTURE OF CLEAN WATER INITIATIVES

“If we knew what we know now, Liberia would not have taken twelve years. It would have taken four.”–Where are we going after Liberia? How about three countries in three years?

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Product Photo of Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Fabric Treatment

Insect Repellent

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A Sawyer MINI water filter.

Water Filters

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A Sawyer Sam Splint Product in Packaging

First Aid

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Product Photo of Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen

Sunscreen

Explore all Sawyer has to offer

Our mission is to enable everyone to enjoy the outdoors safely by eradicating waterborne and insect-borne illnesses.

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Clean water for all
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Built for the outdoors

No collection of products tells nature’s microscopic dangers to buzz off and be gone like Sawyer – from insects, venom and harmful water bacteria to the sun’s UV rays.

See All Products

Insect Repellent

Protect yourself from disease-carrying insects with standard topical skin formulas as well as long lasting fabric formulas.

Product Photo of Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Fabric Treatment

Water Filters

Drink safely with a range of triple-tested  filters and purifiers.

A Sawyer MINI water filter.

First Aid

Be prepared with reusable splints, patented blister protection and our Extractor Pump for bites and stings.

A Sawyer Sam Splint Product in Packaging

Sunscreen

Stay out all day with our famous and very breathable Stay-Put Sunscreen.

Product Photo of Sawyer Stay Put Sunscreen

REACHING THE UNREACHED

What does it take to reach every household in Liberia, even the last 20% everyone said was impossible to reach? Everything from long distance treks on foot to jungle bikes, ferries, and Land Cruisers.

Read the blog to learn more