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H&M commits USD9.3m to WaterAid to help world leaders end poverty

H&M Conscious Foundation Ambassador Alek Wek and Global Manager Helena Thybell made a commitment to join the world’s fight against extreme poverty. The commitment was announced during the the third annual Global Citizen Festival held in New York City.

The H&M executives vowed to give 250,000 children in the world’s poorest countries access to clean water and toilets in school, through a partnership with WaterAid.

"When schools don’t have toilets girls drop out as their periods start. Also, as children are vulnerable to diseases, they often get too sick to attend,” Wek said. “That’s why H&M Conscious Foundation will join forces with Global Citizens around the world to call on World Leaders to drive change and ensure that water, sanitation and hygiene are made a priority in the roadmap to end extreme poverty by 2030."

Thybell said the H&M Conscious Foundation is donating USD9.3 million to WaterAid, which will directly benefit 250,000 students during the three-year program.

H&M US served as the official retail partner of the Festival, providing organic cotton ”Concsious” t-shirts for the IMPACK (Global Citizen Action Pack), which give Global Citizens the opportunity to take action through the purchase of the pack. All profits from IMPACK sales support organizations such as UNICEF, leading the fight against extreme poverty.