Supermodel Georgie Badiel held her inaugural Burkina Faso Water Day fundraising event on May 16 to showcase the many challenges facing water access in Burkina Faso.
Held at the Bryant Park Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the event highlighted Badiel (pictured above) and her organization, the Georgie Badiel Foundation, which aims to “ensure access to water and sanitation to all.”
Peter Jallah, one of the hosts of Burkina Faso Water Day.
Born and raised in Burkina Faso, Badiel was catapulted to fame as a fashion model on the runways of Paris, London and New York for top designers — but she always remembered where she came from. Badiel aims to improve access to clean water in her home country, and her foundation works with the community to create sustainable change in this area and more. The foundation’s website says, “[We do] more than just building and restoring wells. We empower the people we work with by teaching them how to take care of their wells, by showing them how to restore them.”
Georgie Badiel with Macdella Cooper, who was honored at Burkina Faso Water Day.
At her fundraising event, Badiel shared her story, and the story of many others she has had the privilege to help. Supermodel Madlena Kalinova and stand up comedian Peter Jallah were the night’s hosts who kept the event fun and lighthearted.
One highlight of the night was Macdella Cooper, a Liberian Presidential candidate, and Philanthropist Martin Segal received their Honoree awards — both gave passionate speeches and inspired attendees to do more. Attendees of the event included the Gambian and Liberian Ambassadors to the United Nations, fashion enthusiasts and entrepreneurs, who were there to support grassroots charities.
If you’re interested in helping the cause, donate to the Georgie Badiel Foundation here!
