The First Cup
The first cup of clean water can mean so many things.
It means children growing up happy and healthy, free from diseases caused by dirty water. Girls spending their time in school, instead of fetching water for their families. Entire communities breaking free from poverty, and starting to thrive.
At WaterAid, we know the power of the first cup – and we won't stop until everyone, everywhere has the clean water they need to unlock their potential.
Watch the full film, First Cup
Watch the full film, First Cup
Scroll down to discover first cup stories from communities around the world.
“As a mother, what matters most is my kid and his future”
To Anja, the first cup means watching her son grow up healthy, happy and safe.
Anja was born and raised in Antsakambahiny, in Madagascar’s central highlands. Until recently, she had to fetch water three times a day from a muddy pond a long, dangerous walk away – even when she was pregnant.
She welcomed her son, Dylan – now aged two – just after work to build a new water supply system for the area was completed1.
Now, Anja’s free to focus on what really matters: spending quality time with Dylan, building memories together that will last a lifetime.
Water is close now which gives me more time to be with my kid, to play with him and to educate him.
And, with clean water on tap, Anja doesn’t have to worry about Dylan suffering from dangerous diarrhoea, or falling ill with deadly diseases.
Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene2. That's more than 1,000 children a day.
It shouldn’t be this way – and with clean water, it doesn’t have to be.
“It’s much easier for us now. I can properly clean myself and come to school”
To Anju, the first cup means focusing on school, and pursuing her dreams of becoming a volleyball player.
14-year-old Anju lives in the mountains of Dolakha, Nepal. After the water supply was destroyed by earthquakes, people here had no choice but to rely on a well.
Drinking the dirty water often made Anju sick, forcing her to miss school.
I would always be late because I had to fetch water first. I had to come to school wearing a dirty uniform.
When she did make it in, Anju was late after spending the morning collecting water. And with such limited supplies, it was hard to find enough for washing or doing laundry.
But now that Anju has clean water on tap – at home and in school – things are looking brighter.
She no longer misses lessons because she’s ill or too busy fetching water. She doesn’t have to worry about not being able to keep herself or her clothes clean.
Instead, she can focus on her future, studying hard so she can continue her education – and one day, realise her dreams of becoming a volleyball player.
The first cup creates ripples of change that can transform people's lives – but 703 million people are still living without clean water close to home.
That's why we're active in 22 countries around the world, working with communities to find solutions that last.
Together, we're building water systems that people can rely on. We're installing taps, fountains and water points, right where they're needed most. And we're sharing practical skills and know-how with communities, so they can keep the water flowing long into the future.
1. Our work in the Manjakandriana region of Madagascar was made possible by donors including the Wimbledon Foundation.
2. WHO (2023). Burden of disease attributable to unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: 2019 update.
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