Facts - problems for children

"Girls like me carry the water"

Amina explains the problems faced by children who don't have safe water or toilets...

Water
Women and children, especially girls, are often responsible for the collection of water. Girls as young as 10 may be in charge of collecting and carrying the family's water.

Carrying such heavy loads can damage young bodies, especially the head, neck and spine.

Collecting water also takes a long time - often as much as six hours a day. This doesn't leave much time for going to for school, so many children don't get a good education.

Toilets
The lack of toilets in schools also puts off girls from going to classes. They are much more likely to go to school if there are decent toilets.


Health
Children are most vulnerable to the diseases that result from dirty toilets and a lack of clean water. Diarrhoea is deadly, yet in most cases it can be prevented or treated.

In Zambia, 20% of children die before their fifth birthday. In the UK, less than 1% of children die before the same age.

Not having enough water also means that children cannot wash often enough. They suffer from skin diseases like scabies and eye infections such as trachoma, which can cause blindness.

Providing children with clean water and toilets changes their lives. Their health gets better, they can go to school, and they have more time with their friends.