Clean water should be a basic human right, but an estimated 1 billion people around the world are living without access to clean, safe water.

As part of VF’s Sustainability & Responsibility strategy, Made for Change, the company’s associates are on a mission to make a difference.

On World Water Day in March, VF once again partnered with Planet Water Foundation, an Arizona-based non-profit organization focused on solving the global water crisis, for Project 24.

Project 24 raises awareness about the global water crisis and mobilizes companies to deliver clean water and hygiene education programs in 24 communities during a 24-hour event. This year’s 24-hour event took place in communities within Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

“As one of the largest apparel and footwear companies in the world, we view it as our responsibility to make a positive impact on the communities where we operate our businesses,” said Jazz Singh-Khaira, Manager, Worker and Community Development, VF. “We want to help our suppliers embrace workers as valuable assets, developing and retaining them over the long-term, while also making the community better for them and their families.”

VF associates worked with Planet Water Foundation to build a new AquaTower system near the Carlington factory, a VF supplier factory that employs 8,000 people in the Kampong Cham province of Cambodia. The tower can service 1,000 people per day, enough for the entire community to have year-round clean and safe drinking water.

The project is part of VF’s Worker and Community Development program, an initiative of its Responsible Sourcing program. The Responsible Sourcing program ensures VF’s more than 1,000 contract suppliers and sourcing partners are operating with the same high standards VF sets for its owned and operated manufacturing operations.

The Worker and Community Development program improves workers’ lives outside the factory walls and focuses on three key areas — access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare and nutrition, and childcare and education.

VF has commissioned additional AquaTowers in provinces across Cambodia. Once completed, the water towers will provide clean water to more than 20,000 people living in water-risk areas of Cambodia.

More information about VF’s Worker and Community Development program is available here.