The Work of One Woman Activates Thousands to Provide Clean Water

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I won Queen Latifah and CoverGirl CG Vibes Award and with the $10,000 prize, learned how to build simple water technologies and started water projects in my home country the Philippines. I developed a model for community-led water programs and for this innovation I received national and international social entrepreneur awards including Echoing Green (2007), Ernst Young (2009), Schwab Foundation (2010) and others. My programs also won accolades from the Tech Museum Tech Equality Award (2010) and Warriors of the UN Millennium Goals (2010). In 2011, I was recognized as one of the Most Influential Thought Leaders and Innovative Filipinas in the United States.

An inspirational speaker and performer, I have spoken alongside such dignitaries as Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Wangari Maathai and many others. Currently, I am the Director of the Global Women’s Water Initiative (GWWI), integrating my innovations training grassroots women to build water and sanitation technologies in Africa, and eventually beyond. Women and girls can spend all day fetching water and therefore lack economic and educational opportunities. GWWI is devoted to transforming women’s water burdens into economic opportunities by helping them create income-generating sustainable water and sanitation solutions. I was also recently invited to be a HuffPost blogger for Social Entrepreneurship.

For more information about Gemma’s work and passion check out her website www.gemmabulos.com and www.globalwomenswater.org or her blog: www.huffingtonpost.com/gemma-bulos