Water.org highlights Haitian water crisis on twitter

Microfinance Focus, Oct. 13, 2009: Water.org has officially launched technology that uses the Twitter API platform to connect friends and spread the word about the Haitian water crisis via Twitter.
The site, http://challenge.water.org, was announced by Water.org co-founders Gary White and Matt Damon at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting as part of a $2 million commitment to serve at least 50,000 people in Haiti with safe
water and sanitation.
“For nearly twenty years Water.org has delivered innovative solutions to the safe water cause and our use of technologies like Twitter will accelerate the pace of our work in Haiti and around the world,” said Gary White, co-founder and executive director of Water.org. The project is the second major Twitter initiative of Water.org. Last month, the organization released a re-Tweet site (http://RT.water.org) that allows users to “donate” their Twitter status to the non-profit. Water.org can then use these donations to further share news and developments about the water
crisis.
Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, sees promise for these types of innovations on Twitter. “The open exchange of information can have a positive global impact and we’re continuously amazed at the ways in which organizations and individuals are proving that with their smart use of public platforms like Twitter.”
“Twitter is ripe for use by non-profits,” said Mike McCamon, Water.org chief community officer and a former tech industry executive. “By developing a site that allows Twitter users to invite those they follow and automatically
generate news on a user’s Twitter feed, we believe Water.org can quickly and drastically affect change for those in need of water solutions.” Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector.

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