Why Water?
Clean Water Creates Life
Dirty and Deadly
Water is essential for life, yet nearly 900 million people worldwide are not so lucky to have a sink or faucet nearby. For them, water is often shared with animals and goes dry for several months of the year. Many children who drink contaminated water become ill because their immune systems are not fully developed to fight off waterborne illnesses.
Long Walks
It is the job of women and children to retrieve water. Some walk 2-10 miles round-trip to a water source, carrying 5 gallons of water for their family. This trip is typically made multiple times throughout the day.
The long walks can be dangerous. Many girls choose to walk in groups or at night to lower any chance of being harmed.
If you were spending half of your waking hours to walk and get water, what would you miss out on? For many children this means dropping out of school. For parents, it means missed economic opportunities––primarily with livestock and agriculture.
What Does Clean Water Look Like?
Health
With access to clean water, water-related illnesses almost disappear. As a result, clinics do not spend time and resources fighting water-related diseases, children are not sick. A healthier and cleaner community can flourish.
Time
When long walks for water are eliminated, women and children have so much more time in the day. Children can spend the day in school. Women can work and take care of their family. Increased opportunities create a stronger, happier community.
Education
When clean water is provided to a community, children do not have to spend all day carrying water. Children, especially girls, have the chance to attend school and pursue an education. Many projects provide water to schools, which creates a clean and healthy environment in which to learn.
Empowering Women
The burden of finding water falls primarily on women. We believe it’s vital that women play a large role on local leadership councils with every project.