Picturehouse supports Niger water project

Picturehouse Cinemas has teamed up with Plan and launched its own brand of water to help children and communities in Niger, West Africa.

Ten pence from every bottle of water bought at a Picturehouse Cinema is being used by Plan UK to provide a borehole in the Dosso region of West Niger, one of the driest regions in the world.

In March this year the first borehole was drilled in the Marbize community and is now benefiting 300 people. Previously villagers were walking up to 3 miles to collect water which was not fit for drinking. 

This new supply of clean water is immediately benefiting the children's health, reducing disease and decreasing infant mortality rates. School enrolment is increasing and less children miss school due to illness. Children, particularly girls no longer have to spend hours each day walking to collect water.

Plan UK helps children and families to obtain the maximum benefit from their projects through the community playing an integral role in the creation and management of project activities.

Picturehouse Cinemas feels that Plan's child-centred and educational approach is particularly sympathetic to its own values and this led them to choose Plan UK to be its main company charity.

Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of Picturehouse Cinemas, said "Cinema is a universal language in bringing the world together. We felt that it was time to stop just watching other people and time to start making a difference."

Picturehouse Cinemas is keeping its audience informed of the project by using its cinema screens to show a short film about the work taking place.

Further information about the project and its progress can be found at www.picturehouses.co.uk/water