When you help a community get clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, it’s girls and women whose lives can change the most.
In many of the countries where we work, the burden of collecting water falls mainly on the females in the family.
When they no longer have to make that journey, or stand in long queues waiting for their turn to collect water, it doesn’t just save girls and women hours of time every day - it means they no longer have to risk serious injury navigating uneven paths and steep ravines, where they’re also at risk from animal attacks and assault.
It reduces the risk of long-term damage to their neck, back and spine, a common injury caused by carrying heavy containers of water over long distances.
No longer having to drink dirty water also means better health, which in turn means the chance to stay in school, care for their families or earn a living.
And having a decent toilet at school, especially when they reach puberty, gives girls the chance to complete their education, helping them to break free from poverty and change their lives for good.
With clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, to be a girl is...
To be in school
To be in school
"I’m never late for school now as the water is nearby, so it doesn’t take much time to collect it." – Tsehaynesh, 15, Ethiopia
To have your period safely
To have your period safely
"When girls come to school and they're menstruating they find it very difficult, then they just go home. If we had water at school, it would be easier." Angela, 19, PNG
To be safe from attack
To be safe from attack
"It was very difficult for the women to go as we wanted to, but the men used to go whenever they liked... We'd spend the entire day without peeing"- Abez, 57, Ethiopia
Thanks to our partners, and the support of people like you, we’ve enabled girls and women in some of the toughest places in the world to break free from poverty, unlock their potential and build a brighter future.
It’s amazing progress. Which is why we’re determined to change normal for the millions of others still living without the essentials they need to live dignified, healthy lives.
“What’s happening in our village is so great”
Solo, Madagascar.
