For the 696 million people who lack basic access to drinking water, the daily struggle goes beyond thirst. It manifests in various physical pains and ailments, robs children of time to attend school, do homework, or otherwise prepare for a thriving future, and can even threaten death.
"When I'm carrying the water, I normally feel headachy, and my body feels tired," says 10-year-old Everlyne. "I have to sit for two hours until the pain goes away."
Meet Everlyne
In many communities, the global water crisis disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours hauling water every day. Everlyne, in Kenya, is one of them. She dreams of becoming a doctor, but her aspirations are shrouded by the dangerous necessity of collecting water.
The hour-long journey with her grandmother, Umazi, to an earthen dam involves threats like elephants. These 2.5-to-7-ton animals frequent the same water source and have been known to charge, forcing Everlyne and Umazi to flee for their lives on one occasion.
The water itself, shared with various animals, is contaminated. "As we drink that water, there’s a feeling of a stinging effect in the stomach," Everlyne says. This contaminated water leaves her and her family vulnerable to illness. And when sickness forces her to miss school, Everlyne and girls like her find it difficult to hope that their dreams for the future could ever become reality.
Brilliant finds hope
Brilliant, an 8-year-old girl also in Kenya, once faced a similar reality. Her family walked long distances to an open water source filled with bacteria. She frequently missed school due to illness or the hours spent retrieving water. During dry seasons, the journey was even more treacherous, taking her to a crocodile-infested river nearly five miles away.
But thanks to generous donor partners, Brilliant’s story transformed. Through our work together, a 50,000-liter water tank was installed at her school, bringing clean water within reach. Today, Brilliant is thriving. She plays freely, studies with enthusiasm, and, like Everlyne, dreams of becoming a doctor. The presence of clean water has not only improved her health but has also ignited hope for a brighter future for her entire community.
Where World Vision works for clean water
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, sharing His love by equipping vulnerable children and families with the essential resource of clean water. In so doing, we catalyze improved child well-being, economic growth, resilience, and lasting change.
Please prayerfully consider partnering with us in our goal to reach 30 million people with access to clean water by 2030. Every gift matters. Through our unique community-based model, every $1 you give to the Global Water Fund has the impact of $5, thanks to the support of other faithful partners!
Your gift is crucial to helping equip communities with clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education. Together, God is using us to demonstrate His unconditional love and to empower families to build futures where dreams become achievable.
