Episode 14: Safe Drinking Water with Mark Matamisa

AudaciousNess

Mark Matamisa is an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After discovering in 2008 that not everyone in his home land of Zimbabwe had access to clean drinking water, he and his friends put their savings together and set up an enterprise, Project Oasis, to provide safe, treated drinking water to a number of families in the country. In this eye-opening and, at times, emotional interview, Mark explains:

• how an outbreak of cholera affected him emotionally, and set him on this journey
• the importance of clean water for good health and prevention of illness and disease
• the challenges faced by many in accessing water in Zimbabwe and South Africa
• the criticisms he faced in providing a public good via a private enterprise
• the conflict between running a profitable business and making a positive social impact
• why the greatest success of this project would be the point when it’s no longer needed

More details about Mark’s enterprise can be found here.

The film Helen mentioned in this episode is secretofwaterthemovie.com

And the video Maribel mentioned about rich and poor countries can be viewed here.

Related episode: Episode 20: Altruistic Capitalism with Lynn Yap

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Music: Pablito's Way by Paolo Pavan