DUNEDIN, Fla. — Nisha Mandani founded a charity that provides aid to some of the most remote villages in the world. Now, the Dunedin philanthropist has been honored on the international stage for her work.

Mandani, the founder of Our AIM Foundation, was awarded the top honor by the International Water Association at this year’s Global Water Awards in Denmark.

“When I walked on the stage, I was in tears because this award doesn’t just belong to me,” Mandani said of the experience. “It belongs to all the volunteers, all the donors, all the people who have inspired and motivated me to be here where I am today.”

Our AIM Foundation is a non-profit that helps provide things like free health care and education to people in remote areas in Africa and South Asia. It was on a trip to Malawi years earlier that Mandani realized part of that mission had to include clean water.

“When I saw a 3-year-old boy with a big bucket of water, we asked, 'Where are you going all by yourself?” Mandani recalled.  “He said, ‘My mom is dying of malaria and I’m going to the closest puddle to get some water for us because I cannot walk the eight kilometers to get the clean drinking water.’"

Since then, the foundation has built more than 2,000 water and sanitation facilities in those impoverished areas of the world.

“There are millions of people that have to walk 8 to 10 kilometers to get the drinking water. The water is a luxury for them,” Mandani said.

The charity is celebrating its 14th anniversary this month. 95 percent of the money it raises goes directly to helping its beneficiaries. Visit the Our AIM Foundation's website for information on how you can help.