Company Announcement - Atlas Copco, a leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions, will play a key role in bringing clean water to a rural area of Malawi through its employee-driven Water for All organisation and the Peter Wallenberg Water for All Fund. Commencing October 2015, Water for All will finance the installation of infrastructure and facilities that promote clean water, sanitation and hygiene in Malawi. The project which is expected to benefit some 28 000 locals in approximately a dozen villages and rural communities situated in the south-eastern region of the country, is financed through donations to the Peter Wallenberg Water for All Fund, where Atlas Copco is one of the larger contributors.

Water for All is Atlas Copco’s primary community engagement initiative that was founded by Atlas Copco employees in Sweden 31 years ago, on August 22, 1984. The mission of this non-profit, employee-run organisation is to provide people in need with long-term access to potable water. Today, Water for All has representation in more than 40 countries and supports projects all over the world. Through voluntary donations boosted by the Atlas Copco Group, this organisation has thus far provided clean drinking water to more than 1.5 million people around the world!

The Malawi project was made possible thanks to Atlas Copco employees’ 2014 global collection in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Water for All which also involved a number of employees from Atlas Copco South Africa. “Our local Water for All initiative which was started in 2009, has provided clean water for disadvantaged communities in KZN and Limpopo, thanks to the generous support of approximately 15% of our employees,” states Kgothatso Ntsie, Atlas Copco South Africa’s Corporate Communications Manager, South and sub-Sahara Africa.

In line with Atlas Copco’s local community support mantra, Atlas Copco South Africa also funds a number of sustainable community projects and NGO’s including St Francis, Cotlands and Siyazi Gabisa. “Excellent initiatives such as Nelson Mandela Day and Cancer month are firmly etched in our community drive diary and are strongly supported by our employees,” adds Ntsie.

The Malawi project was chosen due to the fact that previous work done by Water for All in the area has produced good results. Malawi is also in the region where Peter Wallenberg Sr. was active when he worked for Atlas Copco in Africa. The project, done in cooperation with non-profit organisation ADRA, is expected to be completed by October 2018. “Atlas Copco is delighted that the many contributions made to the Peter Wallenberg Water for All Fund will be turned into true life-changing benefits for thousands of people in Malawi,” said Ronnie Leten, Atlas Copco’s President and CEO.