SUMMER FACT-FINDING SERIES:

10 Facts About Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Water. It’s thirst-quenching, clean-making, germ-fighting and essential for every process in the human body. But when in short supply, every day is a fight for survival.

Here are 10 Facts About Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene that will make you look at the miracle of turning on the tap in a whole new way!

Fact #1: Billions of people still live without access to clean water

Water is essential to human health, dignity, and the realization of all other human rights. Still, the World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 3 people still live without it. But, here’s good news – the world water crisis is solvable in our lifetime.

As a sponsor, you’re already part of the solution. World Vision is the largest non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world, bringing clean water to one new person every 10 seconds. And guess what? We’re on track to bring water to everyone, everywhere we work by 2030.

Fact #2: Every minute a child dies from water-related illness

Right now, the world still loses more than 800 young lives each day to preventable illnesses like diarrhea, a direct result of poor water and sanitation. Diarrhea is the second largest cause of death for children under the age of 5. An estimated 80% of childhood disease is related to unsafe drinking water, inadequate hygiene and poor sanitation. Disease caused by unsafe water kills more people than disasters and wars, combined.

Washing hands saves lives by preventing illness and reducing the spread of disease. Last year, almost half a million people in communities where World Vision sponsorship works, learned about good hygiene and hand washing. Game changer!

Fact #3: Clean water makes the whole community healthier

Good hygiene – in homes and medical facilities – is simply not possible without clean water. In 54 low-income countries, 38% of healthcare facilities lack clean water, leading to overwhelmed systems and preventable deaths. Clean water is crucial for safe childbirth, reducing mortality rates for mothers and newborns.

When workers fall ill, income drops, productivity suffers, and essentials like food, clothing, and education are compromised. Families spend more time caring for sick loved ones and may be forced to make risky decisions. Sponsorship helps provide access to clean water, thus breaking the cycle and aids children and communities in a transformative way!

Fact #4: Water puts money in people’s pockets

In countries without clean water, economic growth decreased by about a third. Health worsens, food production is reduced, and poverty is exacerbated. Communities can become locked in poverty for generations. With access to clean water, people spend less time collecting it or getting sick from it, so they can be productive in other ways. Children also spend more time at school, boosting income-earning abilities for their future.

Sponsorship enables World Vision to create jobs and employ local people in water initiatives, providing income and a sense of purpose. Communities are taught to drill, develop, and repair wells and other vital water points. They also learn how to keep water flowing and oversee the building of latrines and hand-washing facilities while promoting healthy hygiene through education and behaviour change programs.

Fact #5: Women and girls carry the burden of water – literally

Women and girls are responsible for 80% of water collection in households without water. Time spent collecting water is estimated to be more than 200 million hours, making school attendance difficult. The journey itself is often unsafe with long distances, heightened risk of assault or violence, death from dehydration or dangerous hazards along the way (think mines, hostile enemies, poor construction, falling into the well itself and drowning).

By supporting communities to tackle water problems, sponsors also help tackle gender inequality that holds women, children, and communities back.

Fact #6: Periods are a pain and a source of shame without water

Without clean water and private toilets for girls, it makes managing a monthly period in a private way very difficult. Many girls will skip school or drop out as a result. “As girls, you miss lessons because you are scared to mess yourself up,” explains 16-year-old Womba, in Zambia.

A lack of clean water makes menstruation out to be shameful and it negatively impacts a woman’s ability to learn and work by eroding her self-confidence and independence. When you sponsor a child, you help bring an end to period stigmatization and give girls the essentials they need – toilets, water and information – to take hold of education, employment and leadership opportunities for life.

Fact #7: Water insecurity impacts mental health

There’s a significant link between a lack of access to safe drinking water and feelings of anger, frustration and fear, as well as longer-term psychological impacts of depression and grief. Emotional distress is also higher. This can be especially true for women, with lack of access to water a significant cause of unhealthy stress. These negative emotional states make the challenges faced in developing countries harder.

Reducing the stress associated with water is one more way that sponsors are empowering children and communities to change their world for the better.

Fact #8: Climate is making water a bigger deal than ever

The world has recently experienced the hottest years on record and droughts are becoming more severe with 5 times as much land likely to be under extreme drought by 2050. Extreme weather and changes in water cycles can make it even more difficult to find safe drinking water. As sea levels rise, freshwater sources become salty, intensifying water scarcity. Scarce water can breed conflict, endangering those reliant on fragile supplies, particularly as climate challenges worsen the threat of scarcity.

Sponsors play a vital role in helping secure safe water access and enhancing community resilience to climate events by creating diverse water sources, teaching climate-smart agriculture, and introducing various livelihood opportunities, ensuring a sustainable future for children and communities.

Fact #9: Water infrastructure is just the beginning

Drilling water wells or installing pumps is a critical first step – but ensuring that communities know how to use water is key to improving their health and well-being for good. Infrastructure and education need to go hand-in-hand.

World Vision sponsorship powers a network of staff and volunteers who help children and communities learn about health, sanitation and hygiene. In turn, trained individuals pass what they’ve learned on to their neighbours and beyond. Sponsorship is a powerful catalyst that provides the support, tools and know-how that triggers change.

Fact #10: Water is a powerful agent for change

Water plays a critical role in quality of life and development. A lack of water threatens lives and amplifies suffering, but clean, safe water is a foundation of health, well-being, peace and prosperity.

Water can create waves of change for families, communities, countries and the world. With your partnership, we’re making progress! In the last 10 years, we’ve helped an estimated 31 million people to get clean water, and we aim to reach another 15 million people with water by 2026.

Thank you for helping communities around the world transform their futures with clean water.

When you sponsor a child, water is just one way you help them and their entire community unlock a better future.

Get further insight about World Vision Child Sponsorship as a whole, learn how to send your sponsored child a special gift and have your questions answered by visiting our Sponsor Support Page.