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Water – the most basic element on earth. Without water, human life doesn’t exist. And without safe water, neither does good health.
For most of us, it’s a short walk to the faucet in the kitchen, or bottled water in the refrigerator. But for more than a billion people – about one in six people on earth – getting safe water each day is no easy task. Women and children around the world walk 200 million hours every day for water – water that often comes from a polluted source.
The effects of unclean water are devastating. Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-borne disease, the leading cause of death and illness in the world. Lack of access to safe water leads to a perpetual cycle of disease, death and lost productivity.
But the good news is we have the cure. We know how to provide safe water.
March 22, has been designated World Water Day – an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of those without access to safe drinking water. On this important date, WaterPartners celebrates its progress and renews its commitment to achieving its vision – the day when everyone in the world can take a safe drink of water.
Mrs. Seda and her children used to walk long distances for water, now Mrs. Seda has a hand pump thanks to a loan. Ugwe Village, Kisumu, Kenya.To date, WaterPartners has reached more than 165,000 people in eight countries – India, Kenya, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras and the Philippines. Last year, WaterPartners worked with 13 partner organizations in more than 50 communities to establish safe water and sanitation facilities for approximately 60,000 people, completing 14 projects and launching 12 new projects.
Nearly half of the project funds disbursed were part of WaterPartners’ WaterCredit Initiative. WaterCredit provides small loans to individuals and communities in developing countries who do not have access to traditional credit markets, empowering people to address their own water needs. The repaid loans go back into a revolving fund, and are then re-loaned to the next individual or community.
Mrs. Seda is one satisfied WaterCredit customer. Mrs. Seda and her children used to walk long distances for water– water that wasn’t always safe to drink. Thanks to a WaterCredit loan, Mrs. Seda now has her own water tap right outside her home. Her family’s health has improved, and she has started a garden that provides food for her family and extra income.
The ripple effect of safe drinking water is truly amazing. On World Water Day, please join us in saving more lives and transforming more communities by starting your own ripple. Your gift will bring safe drinking water to people who desperately need it – for less than you may think.
• For $25, you can provide access to safe drinking water for life to someone who desperately needs it.
• For $150, you can meet the water needs of a whole family.
• For $1,000, you can provide a public water point for a 500-person neighborhood in an urban slum.
• And for $10,000 or more, you can help change the fortunes of an entire village.
