Expo Milano 2015 sees Microsoft support the ONE DROP Foundation as it launches its ONE DROP of Life application. A non-profit organization (NGO) established by Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté, the ONE DROP Foundation’s primary goal is to bring safe water access and sanitation to communities in need. Established in 2007, the organisation believes firmly in the importance of both collaboration and creativity when addressing the biggest problems facing society.
The launch of the ONE DROP of Life app this week is a great articulation of this approach to problem solving. Working with Microsoft, the ONE DROP Foundation has created the app to convey important educative messages about water issues worldwide. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile gaming to secure an audience, the collaboration has identified a creative way to spread a serious message. It appears to be effective, too. Even before the official launch the game had been played by over 100,000 people.
This initiative comes on the heels of Microsoft’s support for ONE DROP through the sponsorship of One Night for ONE DROP, imagined by Cirque du Soleil, ONE DROP’s flagship fundraising event held in Las Vegas annually. The creative team used Microsoft Surface technology to re-invent and re-imagine this unique one-time only show in 2015.
Microsoft’s technological support for the ONE DROP of Life app and ONE Night for ONE DROP is motivated by the shared belief with the ONE DROP foundation that empowerment is the key to re-thinking new kinds of sustainable solutions to pressing global challenges. We are empowering ONE DROP through our technology so that they, in turn, can empower the communities where they work through the provision of safe water and sanitation.
These efforts are part of our wider belief that technology has a fundamental role in helping create a more sustainable future for everyone, a sentiment shared by the objective of Expo Milano 2015. Taking place from May 1 to October 31, this global showcase sees more than 140 participating countries exhibit solutions which aim to solve one of the major challenges facing the world today – ensuring sufficient, sustainable provision of food and water for everyone, while simultaneously respecting the environment.
The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important and we at Microsoft are committed to the creation of a sustainable future and are actively working with partners, customers, governments, and leading environmental organisations to bring the power of information technology and cloud computing to address the world’s environmental challenges.
In addition to its support for the ONE DROP Foundation, Microsoft is the official Technology Sponsor of the US Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015.
To learn more, visit ONEDROP.org Find out more about Microsoft Environment.
