Innovating Water - Field Trip in Kenya 2014

Water is key for the health of children and their communities. Innovating Water is a sustainable community-based UV-solar water treatment system in schools and health facilities in Kenya.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.�

- Mahatma Gandhi

“Where did you come from?”

“I am a citizen of the world.”

- Diogenes of Sinope, Greek philosopher

- Design Team of Innovating Water Special thanks to all the friends who have helped us all over the world.

TAIWAN

TAIWAN

CHINA

Irene Yen-Hsuan Shih

Yuen Hsieh

Vivian Xiao

Director of Service & Product Design

Film Director | Visual Artist

Producer and Media Planner

Irene focuses on social innovation driven by design and technology. Through her human-centred design approach with the application of digital multimedia, she has developed novel service experiences, which are awarded and exhibited, like Innovating Water, Show and Tell Companion, and British Soundscape. Also, she likes poetry and nature, which have become the great inspiration for her design during the past two years. Currently, she will complete her MA Service Design degree at the Royal College of Art in June 2014.

Yuen was born in Taiwan and has been working as a filmmaker for the past two years, during which he completed his first fictional shorts BODY COPYRIGHT and has screened at British Film Council (BFI), the Victoria & Albert Museum-Digital Futures. After graduating in Moving Image from Central Saint Martins, he completed his first video that documented his performance, CONTROL/NO CONTROL. The following years, he completed his MA Visual Communication degree and worked as a filmmaker at the Royal College of Art, developing a unique and poetic aesthetic.

Vivian has worked in both the UK and China, as an editor and programme scheduler at China Central Television (CCTV), as a Chinese columnist and freelancer for BBC in London. Also, she is interested in dancing and performance, and has danced in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremony. Today, she continues to dance and be inspired in many other places in London.

- Schedule of Innovating Water -

April 2014 / 2015

Jan - July 2014

Autumn 2014

Field Trip:

Interviews & Co-creation:

Future Plans:

Omen Feeding Centre OGRA Foundation OGRA Medical Centre

Doctors Without Borders WaterAid WASOT-UK Kenyan Orphan Project (KOP) Chalkboard Kenya

UNICEF, Southern California

Glaxosmithkline (GSK) Medicines Research Centre Headquarter

Stanford University Institute of Design Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Kenya

Davis and Shirtliff Company Oile Market Rabour Primary School St. John Ring Road School Ombeyi Primary School Nyanze Provincial General Hospital Kasongo Dispensary The Senator Obama Children Hospital Cancer Ward for Children Oyamo Island Mama Sarah Obama Foundation

United Kingdom

BBC Television Centre BBC Global News

United States Embrace, San Francisco IDEO.org, San Francisco TOMS Flagship, Los Angeles

Lack of access to clean, drinkable water is recognised by the UN Millennium Development Goals as a global priority, given 3.4 million people die each year from water-related diseases; the equivalent of 1 child every 21 seconds.

Innovating Water is a UV-solar water purification system that harvests rainwater and solar energy through schools infrastructure, aiming to provide children in the developing world with access to clean, safe drinking water – with corresponding health, social and economic benefits.

No children should be born to die.

Everyone has the right to life.

With safe and clean drinking water, children have possibilities in their lives. When they grow up, they are able to support families and communities.

Everyone has the right to education.

Innovating Water not only installs UV-solar water purification systems in schools and dispensaries, but also educates children how the system works. It aims to empower them to be the future solution makers like engineers or doctors.

Knowledge is the power to change the world.

The children become the ambassadors, to spread the knowledge for their family and communities. They are for a better tomorrow.

We visited 4 primary schools, 4 hospitals and dispensaries, 3 families, and NGOs and local business firms during our stay in Kenya. (29th March - 9th April, 2014)

...... Some children therefore know where is Taiwan, and they are eager to learn more about our hometown. “Is this a beautiful place with nice people?“

“I want to learn more about solar energy and wind power!

When will you come back to Kenya?“