World Vision focuses our water work in the most remote areas of the world, typically rural areas where people are living in extreme, oppressive poverty. Frequently, people in these areas lack access to clean water as well as have poor hygiene and a lack of safe sanitation. This results in sickness as well as the deaths of an estimated 4,000 people every day. The impact of having to haul water is enormous, with women and girls spending 200 million hours a day hauling water in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Hauling water everyday results in the loss of key opportunities for women and girls, with girls missing school and women being unable to participate in income-generating activities to support their families.
As the leading nongovernmental provider of clean water in the developing world, World Vision is committed to addressing this inequality — reaching one new person with clean water every 10 seconds.
Clean water access is essential to helping people so they can lift themselves out of extreme poverty, but typically it’s not sufficient on its own. World Vision has learned that there are two other critical elements for people lifting themselves out of poverty sustainably. One of those elements is a mindset shift from one of apathy and hopelessness to one of dignity. We have developed a training program called the Biblical Empowered Worldview that helps people understand their God-given abilities and realize the abundant resources available to them. Part of this training encourages a shift in families to enable more equality for women and girls. The mindset shift prepares people and communities for sustainable and transformative change.
Second, once people have this mindset change and have the time and energy to participate because they’re not hauling water, World Vision can bring in our proven model of economic empowerment. Along with clean water, we have learned that economic empowerment opportunities help a community move out of extreme poverty. Our approach, called THRIVE 2030, includes four sequential components that are proven to improve incomes, resilience, and food security.
Seeing is believing
I recently traveled to Kenya to witness the impact of World Vision’s 3-pronged strategy of establishing clean water access, training people in the Biblical Empowered Worldview, and implementing our economic empowerment programs. I spent a week with a couple named Biblia and Ltangiyan and learned how their lives changed forever when World Vision partnered with their community. Prior to World Vision’s arrival, they were in extreme poverty and had lost hope. They had essentially no income and only ate one meal a day if any. Biblia and her daughter Rahima had to walk 10 miles a day to fetch water. This meant that Rahima often missed school. Biblia had to do the long walk for water when she was sick and even up until the day she delivered her children. She had little time for anything other than hauling water and she had no income.
Today, clean water is available just minutes from their home and they are no longer getting sick. Biblia and Ltangiyan told me that the Biblical Empowered Worldview training helped them understand that they were made in the image of God and therefore were not destined to live in poverty. They told me they felt their eyes were opened because of this training. Biblia joined a savings group and took out a loan to buy young goats that she tends and then sells for income once they have grown. She and Ltangiyan learned how to build latrines together and now build them for their community to earn money. And, Biblia has used her newfound time and energy to give back to her community by becoming a community health worker.
Biblia told me that there is less fighting and struggle in their marriage now that she is bringing ideas and income to their marriage. Ltangiyan told me that he is a changed man. He says that he now respects his wife, and that he enjoys working with her and making plans together for their future. He also values his daughters more and wants them to make their own choices about whom they will marry and when.
It was easy to understand why Biblia told me that, “Compared to where we were to where we are today, it's like a paradise.” You can see the story of Biblia and Ltangiyan for yourself here.
Join us on February 24
On Monday, February 24, we invite you to a virtual Health community update at 7 pm Eastern Time. Learn more about World Vision’s life-saving health work and hear from some of our deeply engaged partners about their recent trip to Zambia to see the tremendous need and impact of World Vision’s interventions. Please register using the following link:
Celebrate World Water Day with World Vision on March 21
Join us for the World Water Day virtual event beginning at 8 am Central Time. Here's a look at our schedule and the link to join. Don't miss our new video that we'll show at noon CT (click to view).
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
In 2023, 89% of World Vision's total operating expenses were used for programs that benefit children, families, and communities in need. Learn More.
World Vision, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063
