Last month representatives of TPRF were invited to the home of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Clarence House, on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the International NGO, WaterAid. This invitation arose in recognition of the substantive support TPRF has provided to WaterAid over several years. Prince Charles, as President of WaterAid, hosted the reception for about 80 people, and met with TPRF representatives to discuss the plight of those without clean water or sanitation. He expressed his thanks for the support the Foundation provided.

Other guests included the President of Rotary International and the Founder of the Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis, and his daughter Emily.

After the event, Barbara Frost, Chief Executive of WaterAid, said:

"We were thrilled that The Prince of Wales was personally able to thank some of the people who have done so much to support WaterAid's work over the past 30 years. Since 1981 we have been able to reach almost 16 million people with safe water and more than 11 million with sanitation, but we still have a long way to go to ensure that the millions of people still living without these basic human rights get the services to which they are entitled."

Formed by a group of individuals in the water industry, WaterAid now works in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South America.

In a personal letter to TPRF following the event the WaterAid CEO expressed her thanks for the support provided by the Foundation saying, “My colleagues and I are humbled every day by the strength of support we receive. We are very grateful to The Prem Rawat Foundation for their partnership with us over the years and look forward to a continuing successful association.”

TPRF has supported WaterAid initiatives in Tanzania, India, and Pakistan, as well as being the largest donor to the WaterAid Financial Times Christmas Appeal of 2009.

The Clarence House invitation follows a series of successful events attended or hosted by TPRF in London in recent years, including a charity lunch held by the Foundation at the Houses of Parliament. The lunch was attended and supported by members of the House of Lords, Members of Parliament, and leading businessmen, as well as a member of the British Royal family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo credits: WaterAid/Marco Betti/Tanzania/Nepal

                     WaterAid/Asim Hafeez/Pakistan