Water Changes Everything

One in six people on the planet do not have access to clean drinking water. So charity: water, a non profit organization is bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations, giving100% of the money they raise to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.

MONIQUE PEAN, a New York City jewelry designer has partnered with charity:water, a non-profit organization that is providing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. The charity:water fine jewelry collection by Monique Pean raises awareness of the 1.1 billion people in the world who do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. Each piece of jewelry sold provides clean drinking water to 10 people for 20 years. Thus far, sales from the collection have provided clean water to over 2,000 people for 20 years. The charity:water collection draws inspiration from the water purification process. In a nod to the pure water which charity:water is working so diligently to provide, the 2009 collection moves between browns and blues to glistening clear colors (pictured here). Monique Pean combines recycled gold with conflict and devastation free precious stone and diamonds to create a collection that speaks to those who appreciate luxury and look for beautiful and avant-garde jewelry that makes a difference.

I remember watching charity:water's powerful PSA which shows people in a U.S. city carrying large plastic jugs down to the murky waters of a nearby pond to collect their drinking water, and a mother pouring it for her kids to drink. But it wasn't until I fell in love with a necklace that Monique Pean designed - the Drop of Water Blue Diamond Necklace - which is a part of her c:w signature collection currently on her website (it's so gorgeous, and it appears that you can still order it online, $795, not pictured here) - that I learned about charity:water's work to build wells and to raise awareness of the water crisis through events, fundraising exhibitions and other public awareness campaigns. Now that I've read Monique Pean's Water Changes Everything summary about her collaboration with charity:water and her use of recycled gold and conflict and devastation free stones in her collection, I not only know what I'm going to add to my next birthday/anniversary/holiday wish lists, but also how I can be a conscious consumer when it comes to buying precious metals and stones. So walk to your kitchen, pour yourself a cold glass of water from your faucet, and check out charity:water and Monique Pean's websites to learn more. (water glass image courtesy of charity:water website; jewelry images courtesy of Monique Pean)