Don’t let March 8 slip by this year — it’s simply too important to overlook. International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate women and their the incredible social, economic, cultural, and political achievements globally.
But even more, International Women’s Day is a day to pause and take a hard look at the world in which women live. A day to examine the burdens carried by women living in poverty. And a day to take action to ensure all women — everywhere — have the equity, opportunity, and resources they need to pursue the lives they deserve.
Together, we can empower women with choices — and dignity — through the Global Water Fund. Because clean water can change everything.
One in ten people on the planet live without clean water, and it’s women and girls who are impacted the most. Every day around the world, women and girls sacrifice 200 million hours hauling water. Hauling water is a demanding chore that keeps girls from going to school and prevents women from earning incomes. It robs them from experiencing a meaningful life.
Turning the tide for women and girls
World Vision is helping turn the tide, thanks to our unique community engagement model and global footprint. With God’s help, we are reaching one new person with clean water and hygiene education every 10 seconds.
At World Vision, we believe that ending extreme poverty is possible, but it won’t happen as long as half the population is held back from reaching their full potential. Strong and empowered women and girls create a stronger world. The evidence is indisputable. When girls and women get equal access and opportunity, progress is accelerated, families are stronger, and communities are more prosperous.
The reality is, women and girls living in poverty face significant barriers in every area of their lives. That’s why we focus on equipping and empowering women and girls in every aspect of our work—like providing clean water. Access to clean water can be the first step in helping keep girls in school, delay marriage, and encourage opportunities for income generation.
We are committed to reach everyone, everywhere we work with clean water by 2030—about 50 million people. With your continued help, World Vision is on track to reach the halfway point of achieving this goal by 2022.
Clean water brings fresh hope
For Esperance, a wife and mother in Rwanda, her whole world transformed when World Vision helped bring access to clean water to her community. Instead of missing school because they were sick from dirty water, her children are thriving in class. Instead of walking long hours for most of the day, Esperance was able to plant a garden and faithfully tend it, and care for the family’s cow. Now she grows nutritious food for her family, with enough vegetables left over, as well as milk, to sell for a profit. Even her relationship with her husband has improved.
Hear Esperance’s story.
“Clean water changed my life and has given me choices I didn’t have before,” Esperance says. “I’m able to save money every week to put in the bank. I’m in a savings group and have learned accounting skills. People look up to me and I have dignity … Water has given me hope. I’m a strong woman. Thanks to World Vision and clean water, there are a lot of strong women here.”
To celebrate International Women’s Day, take action by donating to the Global Water Fund. Your contribution enables World Vision to have a greater impact. This is because World Vision has been able to obtain an additional $4 for every $1 donated to our Global Water Fund. Your $1 investment, combined with funding from grants, child sponsorship, foundations, and corporations, will have an impact of $5.
God is at work and calls us to join in empowering women — and their families — to experience the fullness of life He intends for them.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
— Proverbs 31: 28-29 (NIV)
