Water, Equity, and Empowerment: The Surge for Water Story

Shilpa Alva, CEO of Surge for Water, shares how her organization invests in underserved global communities by delivering safe water, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to help break cycles of poverty. She highlights that Surge for Water is a women‑led movement rooted in equity, respect, and stewardship ensuring historically excluded groups are prioritized and that local wisdom guides every project. Alva explains how the organization partners with community‑based teams in Haiti and Uganda to ensure all solutions are locally owned and sustainable. She also describes a range of educational water projects, from solar‑powered wells to spring harvesting, well drilling, repair, and filtration. Ultimately, she emphasizes that safe water is foundational for thriving schools, health centers, and entire communities. Podcast Recorded on January 15, 2026