Just a Drop, the international water-aid charity, organised on behalf of the global travel and tourism industry, has received the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism’s highest accolade.

The charity has been presented with one of three IIPT Achievement Awards by Founder and President Louis D’Amore.

He said: The benefits of Just a Drop in providing clean water extend to improved health conditions and lower mortality among children as well as to educational and social benefits.

“Children who would otherwise be spending their time walking several miles each day to retrieve water for their families are now able to attend schools and get an education.

The award was received by Fiona Jeffery, founder and Chairman of Just a Drop, who said this honour gave the charity’s many supporters across the world, encouragement to continue their important work.

She said: “There are many people in this world who are denied even the basics of clean water to drink.

“Often it has tragic results – and is the reason why sadly a child dies every 15 seconds from drinking dirty and polluted water.

“Unlike other charities, Just a Drop spends the barest minimum on administration, ensuring that virtually all the money that is raised is used to save the life of children and their families, where ever it is need in the world.”

Trek Petra

This year’s World Travel Market in November will mark the global launch of a major new fund raising initiative for Just a Drop, in association with the Jordan Tourism Board and tour operator Discover Adventure.

The worldwide launch will take place on the World Stage at World Travel Market on Tuesday 15 November at ExCeL London. This historic guided charity walk to the ‘Lost City of Petra’, Jordan in April 2006 and limited to 50 walkers, has never been undertaken before. The six-day walk will start at the Dana nature reserve before travelling along ancient Bedouin trails through a mixture of desert lands and rugged mountains where settlements date back some 6000 years. On arrival in Petra walkers will be able to take in the tombs, temples and haunting rock drawings in some of the oldest archaeological sites in the Middle East.

Just a Drop’s trek to the ‘Lost City of Petra’ is from the 1st – 8th April 2006.