22.03.2026
To mark World Water Day on 22 March 2026, GARDENA proudly announces the continuation of its global partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children and families around the world.
Since the partnership began in 2018, support from GARDENA has helped UNICEF advance its global efforts to expand access to clean, safe water and hygiene services for children and families in vulnerable communities. Building on this progress, the collaboration continues with renewed ambition and a shared commitment to drive meaningful, long-term change. Together, the partnership aims to help provide 355,000 children and families in high-need regions with access to clean, safe water by the end of 2026.*
At GARDENA, water is at the heart of everything we do. We understand deeply that water means life, for gardens to flourish, for communities to grow, and for children to thrive. This is why we are especially proud to support UNICEF’s life-changing WASH programmes. Through flexible funding, the partnership will help reach communities where needs are greatest, enabling children and families to grow healthier, safer and more resilient.
This year, the partnership is expected to enable access to clean and safe water for thousands more children and families in high-need regions.
Water is the foundation for healthy futures
Access to clean water and adequate sanitation remains one of the most critical challenges facing children globally, with an estimated 1 in 4 – or 2.1 billion – people lacking access to safely managed drinking water services.
Safe water and hygiene are essential for health, education and long-term resilience, particularly as climate change increases the frequency of droughts, floods and water insecurity in many regions.
Through flexible funding provided by GARDENA, UNICEF can allocate resources where they are most urgently required. From improving water infrastructure and expanding essential sanitation services, to promoting hygiene education, supporting healthier daily routines and strengthening emergency response efforts. These interventions help prevent disease, improve health outcomes and enable children and families to grow, learn and build brighter futures.
Maha Elkharbotly, President of GARDENA, says:
“Our partnership with UNICEF is deeply meaningful to us. Throughout my career, I have seen how access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene can transform lives and strengthen entire communities. Water means life. Through this collaboration, we are proud to stand alongside UNICEF to help ensure that more children and families have access to this fundamental human need. Together, we are contributing our voice, our expertise and our commitment to a purpose that extends far beyond our own organisation.”
GARDENA’s flexible approach reflects the trust and dedication underpinning this long-term partnership and ensures maximum impact for children and communities worldwide.
Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, Global Director, Water and Sanitation Practice, UNICEF says,
“The world is in a water crisis, and children shoulder the greatest burden of its impact. At UNICEF, we believe that every child deserves a fair chance to not only survive but to grow and thrive – and safe drinking water is so very critical for their health, nutrition, education, and development. Providing access to safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene is a shared societal responsibility, we all need to contribute together, and we deeply value the support of GARDENA, whose long-term commitment helps create lasting impact for children where the need is greatest.”
Growing awareness at home and globally
Alongside programme funding, the partnership aims to inspire more conscious and responsible water use in everyday life. By connecting global water challenges with daily habits, it encourages people to recognise the true value of water both in crisis-affected regions and closer to home.
Reinhard Pompe, SVP Watering at GARDENA, adds:
“Water is essential for growth, whether in nature, communities or future generations. Through this partnership, we want to deepen understanding of water’s true value and encourage more mindful use. Even small actions, when taken collectively, can help protect this precious resource and create lasting impact.”
Throughout 2026, the ‘Growing Futures, one drop at a time’ campaign will inspire individuals and communities to recognise the power of water in everyday life — and the role each of us can play in safeguarding it.
By linking global water challenges with daily behaviour, the partnership aims to spark lasting awareness while contributing to tangible change for children and families worldwide, proving that even one drop, multiplied by millions, can help shape healthier futures.
Find out more about how to support the campaign through GARDENA’s social channels and website, or donate to UNICEF directly via GARDENA's website www.gardena.com/unicef.
*Gardena’s funding helps provide access to safe water, basic sanitation and good hygiene practices to ensure that all children can survive and thrive. Since its start in 2018, the partnership has already contributed to providing WASH services for 330,000 children and families.
Important:
UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.
Notes to Editor:
- The partnership supports UNICEF’s global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes through direct funding provided by GARDENA.
- Funding is flexible, allowing UNICEF to allocate resources where needs are greatest.
- Imagery accompanying this release is supplied by UNICEF and must be used in accordance with UNICEF’s imagery handling and watermark guidelines to protect the dignity and rights of children featured.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund. UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. www.unicef.org