Eight women from around the world will embark on a 2-month expedition along the Ganges River from October to November 2015 to raise awareness about the global water crisis and inspire 50 million students to action. The expedition will engage with schools and communities along the over 1,500 mile journey to discuss local water initiatives and solutions. The long term goal is for the Access Water journey to reach people on all continents and tip the world towards universal access to clean water by 2020.

1. ACCESS WATERACCESS WATER
AN EXTRAORDINARY
JOURNEY FROM
HOPE TO ACTION
Ann Bancroft & Liv
Arnesen, along with six
women from six
continents, are leading
a journey to ignite
global conversations
with 50 million youth to
inspire the future leaders
of the world to build and
demand a safe and
abundant world, starting
with clean water

2. ACCESS WATERACCESS WATER
2015 marks the
beginning of the
Access Water journey
with a
2-month expedition
along one of the
world’s most sacred
rivers, The Ganges,
from October to
November
The goal of the
Ganges Expedition:
To raise awareness,
incite advocacy and
ignite action of the
global water situation
through education

3. 8 WOMEN AND 50 MILLION STUDENTS ARE EMBARKING ON
AN EXPEDITION TO INSTIGATE CHANGE
8 WOMEN AND 50 MILLION STUDENTS ARE EMBARKING ON
AN EXPEDITION TO INSTIGATE CHANGE

4. SCARCE.FRESH WATER
IS BECOMING
1 in 8 people lack access to clean water
More people die from lack of clean water and
sanitation each year than are killed by all forms of
violence, including war
By 2030, the global NEED for water will exceed the
global SUPPLY of water by 40 percent
WHY WATER?
Approximately 40% of all rivers in the U.S. and 46%
of all lakes have become so polluted that they are
no longer fit for human use
GLOBALLY
EVEN IN THE U.S.
California only has 20 years of fresh water left

5. Awareness . Advocacy . Action .
5

6. THE EXPEDITION
Several key locations along our journey provide opportunities to understand and
discuss local water initiatives and educate students online and in person.
RISHIKESHRISHIKESH
PATNAPATNA
KOLKATAKOLKATA
ALLAHABADALLAHABAD
KANPURKANPUR
VARANASIVARANASI
NEW DELHINEW DELHI
NEPALNEPAL
BANGLADESHBANGLADESH
| OVER 1,500 MILES (2510 KILOMETERS) IN 60 DAYS
GOMUKHGOMUKH

7. As with other successful
Bancroft Arnesen expeditions, this
project will engage youth around
the world by means of technology
and a tailored educational
methodology and curriculum.
The team will visit and engage with
schools along the route.
As with other successful
Bancroft Arnesen expeditions, this
project will engage youth around
the world by means of technology
and a tailored educational
methodology and curriculum.
The team will visit and engage with
schools along the route. • Agriculture
• Energy/Industrial
• Engagement
• Health
• Pollution
• Solutions

8. OUR JOURNEY - GOMUKH
Located at the base of the Gangotri glacier, Gomukh
is said to resemble a cow’s mouth (snout) and is a
primary source of the River Ganges. This is where we
begin our expedition in October 2015.
•Gomukh is a popular destination for trekking
•The terminus of this glacier has been shrinking
•This is where this mighty river is in its purest form
EVENT FOCUS:
•Local partnership to create a water restoration
event/clean water drive and recycling event
•Tree planting event at Bhojbasa in association with
government officials and the forest department
Bhojbasa

9. After approximately 250 kilometers of winding through
the narrow Himalayan valley, the Ganges emerges
from the mountains at Rishikesh and enters the
Gangetic Plains.
•Old spiritual city, famous and holy; path to the four
holy places of the upper Himalayas
•Several temples are located on the banks
EVENT FOCUS:
•Association with the ‘Art of Living’ Foundation and Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar
•Half day workshop with students of yoga to spread
awareness about the expedition and its cause
•Local school visit in conjunction with TERI
9
OUR JOURNEY - RISHIKESH

10. OUR JOURNEY: KANPUR
With a population of three million, Kanpur is the tenth
largest city in India, sitting high on the banks of the
Ganges.
•An industrial city, home to the largest tanneries in India
and South Asia
•Ganga is a much needed source of water to its various
other industries like leather & textiles, fertilizer, chemical,
two wheeler, soap, hosiery and engineering
9
EVENT FOCUS
•Student engagement and partnership with Indian
Institute of Technology - Kanpur
•Concert at IIT Kanpur
•Local school visit in conjunction with TERI
•Activity regarding industrial waste management

11. OUR JOURNEY - ALLAHABAD
•Tourism, real estate and financial services are the main
economic drivers
•Known for its literary and artistic heritage
•The city is also the host for Kumbh Mela – considered to be
the largest peaceful gathering of people in the world
EVENT FOCUS:
•Local school visit in conjunction with TERI
•Village event: farmer engagement, industrial and waste
management
9
A very fast growing city, Allahabad is known as the city of Prime Ministers as it has produced a lot of
ministers after independence. It is located at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

12. OUR JOURNEY - VARANASI
Considered the spiritual capital of India,
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously
inhabited cities in the world. It is located in
the middle of the Ganges valley and sits
between two confluences - the Ganges and
Varuna rivers.
•A cultural center of North India
•Manufacturing (spinning and
weaving/metal) is the main industry, followed
by tourism
•Hindus come here to perform the last rites of
their dead in a sacred ritual, immersing the
ashes in the river, believed to bring salvation
EVENT FOCUS:
•Student engagement at the Banaras Hindu
University; connection with Prof. BD Tripathi of
BHU
•Participation in Ganga Aarti
•Local school visit in conjunction with TERI
9

13. OUR JOURNEY - PATNA
Patna sits on the southern banks of the
Ganges and is one of the oldest places on
earth – but is a modern and fast growing
city. It boasts four large rivers in its vicinity
and the longest bridge in India - the
Mahatma Gandhi Setu.
•High literacy rate – especially women
•Agriculture/center of trade – rice, grains,
sugar cane, sesame
•Home to several sugar mills
•Nalanda University near Patna is the
largest Buddhist center of learning in the
world with a nine-story library-one of the
seven wonders of India and a major tourist
attraction
9
EVENT FOCUS:
•School/student outreach
program at Nalanda University
•Local school visit with TERI
•Connection with Azim Premji
Foundation
•Engagement activity with
women weavers in Patna

14. OUR JOURNEY – KOLKATA (CALCUTTA)
Kolkata (Originally known as Calcutta) Is the capital of the Indian
state of West Bengal, located on the east bank of the Hooghly
(traditionally Ganges) river. It is the principal commercial, cultural
and education center of East India.
•The most populous metropolitan area in India and the third most
prominent
•The city is known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary
heritage; as the former capital of India, it was the birthplace of
modern Indian literary and artistic thoughts
•The city sits on a seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes
•This is where the river ends her journey and mixes with the ocean
at the Bay of Bengal; the point of confluence is called
Gangasagar
EVENT FOCUS:
•Local school visit in conjunction with TERI
•Visit to Shanti niketan and engagement with students
•Engagement with Tribal Women in association with ITC CSR
initiative

15. THE TEAM
8 WOMEN FROM AROUND THE GLOBE JOIN FORCES TO EMPOWER YOUTH
TO WORK TOGETHER
With different ages, experience, religion and languages, this team is coming
together to cooperate to be successful, as people need to cooperate to solve
the world’s fresh water challenges

16. +
REACH50+
1
2
4
3
5
6
7
8ASIA
AFRICA
OCEANIA
N. AMERICA
EUROPE
S. AMERICA
ANTARTICA
Tipping Point of
«Dare to dream»
people
THE BIG PICTURE: ACCESS WATER
The team is not stopping at Ganges 2015. That’s only the beginning.
The Access Water journey will reach the entire globe – igniting
conversations and inspiring youth to take ahold of tomorrow
and make each and every country a better place to live.
2014 2020 TIME
Young
leaders who
take action

17. EDUCATION PARTNERS
YouTube
Frequently
updated video
content
provided by
Access Water
WAGGGS
(World Association of Girl
Guides & Girl Scouts)
12 million members
working to empower
girls for leadership &
citizenship worldwide
Young Pioneers of
China
130 million Chinese
youth educated
through this
organization
Bancroft
Arnesen
Explore
UNESCO
(United Nations Educational Scientific
and Culture Organization)
World Organization of the
Scout Movement (WOSM)
International organization composed
of both Girl and Boy Scouts (28 million
members)
TERI
(Energy & Resources Institute)
Largest developing-country
institution working towards
sustainability; shaping global
solutions to critical issues

18. MEDIA PARTNER - INDIA
YouTube
Frequently
updated video
content
provided by
Access Water
DIGITAL
•Indiatimes.com
•India times 58888
•Contests and
promotions
TV & RADIO
•Radio Mirchi
•ET Now
•BBC Knowledge
NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION
•Student outreach program
•The Times NIE Awards –
Environmental Awareness
•Features
OTHERS
•Times Music
•Times School of Journalism
•Teach India
•Femina Miss India
PRINT
•The Times of India & other
dailies
•Femina

19. REPRESENTED BY TUNHEIM
Carl Levi
651.767.2972
clevi@ignitecompany.com

20. Appendix

21. BANCROFT ARNESEN EXPLORE HAS A HISTORY OF
GENERATING ATTENTION FOR IMPORTANT CAUSES
ANTARCTIC CROSSING 2000
3 million school children globally
2.2 billion media impressions
25 million website hits
20,000 web messages
2.6 million Girl Scouts

22. Ann and Liv are dedicated to sharing their journeys as a way to ignite people to
find their own dreams, passions and create change. As former school teachers,
Liv and Ann are passionate about creating inspiring education programs such as
the Dare to Dream and their Antarctic curriculum.
BANCROFT ARNESEN EXPLORE
EXPLORERS & EDUCATORS
ANN BANCROFT
EDUCATOR AND
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
FIRST WOMAN TO TRAVEL
ACROSS ICE
TO THE NORTH POLE
FIRST WOMAN TO TRAVEL
ACROSS ICE TO BOTH
NORTH & SOUTH POLES
LIV ARNESEN
EDUCATOR AND
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
FIRST WOMAN TO SKI
SOLO AND UNSUPPORTED
TO THE SOUTH POLE
TOGETHER
FIRST WOMEN TO SKI ACROSS
ANTARCTICA
SHATTERING STEREOTYPES
AND INSPIRING
AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES
TO REACH BEYOND
THEIR NORMAL BOUNDARIES
AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS

23. MEET THE TEAM
OLFAT HAIDER , ISRAEL
•Age: 43 years old
•Home: Arab living in Israel
•Hobbies: Former national volleyball player, mountain climbing and
marathons
•Career: Works with Arabs and Jews in an outdoor setting focusing on
conflict resolution; former employee at U.S. Outward Bound
•Education: Physical Education, Geographic and Environment as
well as a Masters degree in gender study
MARCIA XIMENA GUTIERREZ, CHILE
•Age: 37 years old
•Hobbies: Mountaineering, ice climbing, tribal dance and belly dance,
work with Red Cross
•Career: Engineer, with specialty in Safety and Occupational Health;
Teach First Aid in the AIEP Institute; teach/instruct people in industries
and companies in safety; and advises the insurance company ACHS
CHILE

24. MEET THE TEAM
LISA TE HEUHEU, NEW ZEALAND
•Age: 33 years old
•Home: Turangi, Central North Island, NZ
•Hobbies: Dirt bike trail riding, aviation, snowboarding and
physical fitness
•Career: Environmental Land Specialist, Project Manager and
Maori Capability Initiatives
•Education: Science/ Geology and Management
KRUSHNAA PATIL, INDIA
• Age: 24 years old
• Home: Mumbai, India
• Hobbies: Author of Everest: My Journey to the Top
• Career: Youngest Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest
• Achievements: Rajiv Gandhi Award, CNN IBN Young Indian
Leaders, among many others
• Education: Bachelors of Arts in Political Science, current MA
student in Political Science

25. MEET THE TEAM
CINDY JIAOJIAO HU, CHINA
•Age: 25 years old
•Home: Yunnan, China
•Hobbies: Mountaineering; founder of education aid team
•Education: Postgraduate student at China University for
Geosciences, two masters degrees from France and Germany
KIM SMITH, SOUTH AFRICA
•Age: 29 years old
•Expertise: Female reproductive health: education and
alternative sanitary ware products
•Education: Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Human
Rights and will start a Masters in Public Health in 2015

26. Access Water 2015: Ganges River