The Work

What was supposed to be a summer bicycling trip through Southeast Asia for Curt & Cathy Bradner, became three months in Myanmar. Which became a year. Which became six. They stayed because they saw an immediate need, and felt that with the resources available, there was no reason that so many should suffer illness and death from something as easily preventable as waterborne diseases.

Curt and Cathy Bradner came to Myanmar as visitors, but stayed as engineers. With their background in engineering and microeconomics, they quickly discovered that a sustainable solution was right under their feet.

The approach? Thinking outside of the bottle.

The solution? Ceramic pots molded out of red earth and ground rice husks, which, when properly combined, have the ability to filter out 99% of harmful agents in the local water supply. Thirst Aid trains local artisans to create these ceramic filters using the skills they already have, simultaneously keeping Myanmar’s tradition of pottery alive and flourishing. They also educate mothers on safe hygiene and create small business opportunities for villagers to sell filters and filtered water within their own communities.

Welcome to a sustainable system: Returns not just for the planet (no more burning wood to boil water), but for perpetuating education and empowering local people to lead their community into longer, healthier lives.

That’s giving pure.