Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Water Shouldn’t Kill
Water is a basic human need, yet 780 million people around the world lack access to clean water. Frequently, accessible water is contaminated, infecting people with waterborne diseases responsible for 1.5 million deaths a year. Children are the most vulnerable: 90 percent of deaths caused by diarrheal disease are of children under the age of 5.
We have been addressing these issues for 30 years, installing filters that clean contaminated water, digging wells, and installing water pipes where water is available yet inaccessible. Our initiatives also educate communities about sanitation and the fatal danger of waterborne diseases.
Donate TodayStories
Ardo’s Story
Ethiopia
Mercy’s Story
Zimbabwe
Monem’s Story
Yemen
Veronica’s Story
Timor-Leste
Ardo’s Story
Ethiopia
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Ardo’s Story
My name is Ardo and I live in Kelafo, Ethiopia. I’m a 40 year-old woman, married and have five children. Life has never been easy here and it is hard to meet the basic necessities of life. The shortage of water for drinking and other basic human needs is one of our greatest challenges.
Women are often in charge of fetching water for our families, so on a daily basis I would travel for at least eight hours return to fetch two jar cans of water (20 litres each). For safety against wild animals, I would travel in a group with other women, leaving home at one o’clock in the morning so as to avoid the scorching midday sun.
Recently ADRA Ethiopia gave me a donkey cart with a good quality 200-litre water barrel. I now fetch enough water once every three days and get lots of time to carry-out other duties both at home and in my village. I can also use the donkey cart for transporting crops and other items from the fields and at times onto the market in Kelafo.
I have also been able to generate an additional income by transporting items for different people at a fee. I have also been able to have a tea shop and make up to 100 Birr ($4.50) each day. This is impacting my life and the life of my family positively. I want to thank ADRA and UNOCHA/HRF for the support.
Mercy’s Story
Zimbabwe
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Mercy’s Story
Having lost both her parents to AIDS, Mercy lives in an orphanage outside of Harare, Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the orphanage lacks access to clean water, making Mercy one of the many children living in Zimbabwe at risk of diseases like cholera. Contaminated water and improper sanitation are the primary reasons for cholera outbreaks, and children are among the most vulnerable to its deadly impact.
ADRA’s well-drilling project provides safe and clean drinking water for children like Mercy.
Members of the community had attempted four times to drill wells for the orphanage, but due to poor infrastructure and lack of proper drilling tools, these attempts had failed. The orphanage was left unable to provide the children with safe drinking water and a sanitary environment.
ADRA decided to give it one more try, bringing new and advanced drilling technology to assist in the orphanage’s efforts. After hours of drilling, the team finally hit water and installed a water pump for the orphanage. The precious gift of water was not lost on Mercy, the children, and the community leaders, who celebrated and rejoiced at the sight of water flowing.
ADRA has installed 21 wells in severely affected rural areas of Zimbabwe. Donations from all around the world provide ADRA with the resources needed to give communities access to clean water, such as drilling trucks and pumps. Now children like Mercy don’t have to travel miles for water, can avoid deadly waterborne diseases, and have a chance at a brighter future.
Monem’s Story
Yemen
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Monem’s Story
Monem, a 7-year-old living in Al Masraka, Yemen, makes the mile-long trek through a conflict-ridden area to draw water for his family. The youngest of five children, Monem is starting to show signs of trachoma, a painful and debilitating bacterial disease that has caused his older siblings to go blind. Contaminated water and the absence of latrines contribute to the contraction and spread of diseases like trachoma.
ADRA’s well-drilling project provides safe and clean water for children like Monem.
Monem’s family frequently depends on neighbors’ generosity to get by, but Monem worries about who will bring his family water when he goes blind. Given the unsafe area and travel distance, Monem knows that it will not be easy for his mother to get water for the family.
ADRA’s water system specialists spearheaded construction on a new well in Al Masraka. Just a few minutes away from Monem’s house, the well has a pump and a cistern for storing water. The new well now saves Monem from hours of backbreaking work. The clean water prevents the spread of diseases like trachoma—and while it might be too late for Monem and his siblings, hopefully the well will save other children from unnecessary suffering.
ADRA has installed numerous pumps in rural areas of Yemen. Donations from around the world provide resources for ADRA to drill wells and provide clean water to the areas in need. When children like Monem get sick less frequently and require less time to transport water, they have time to get an education and think about a better future.
Veronica’s Story
Timor-Leste
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Veronica’s Story
Veronica lives with her husband and three children in Dilor, a small village in Timor-Leste. Every day, she makes at least two exhausting trips to the river and back to provide water for her family. The river water is dirty and often causes diarrhea and other illnesses, especially for her children. “I was exhausted and felt terrible that I didn’t have money to buy medicine for my children,” Veronica shared with ADRA.
ADRA has been drilling wells in Timor-Leste, providing accessible and safe water for families.
The water Veronica carries every day, despite being contaminated, is precious to the family, and every drop matters. Veronica explains that as a result of its scarcity, her family would never wash their hands before eating or after going to the toilet. This lack of sanitary behavior also plays an undeniable role in the spread of diseases.
After drilling the well, ADRA installed a water station with hand pumps in Dilor, near Veronica’s home. It now takes her minutes to fetch water for her family. ADRA also provided hygiene and sanitation training to the villagers and at the school.
Now with clean water available, the cases of diarrhea have lowered dramatically, and children are no longer missing school due to illness. With the community’s acquired knowledge on sanitation, the health behaviors have changed, directly affecting the health and well-being of families.
The water station has been life-changing for Veronica and her family. She says, “Our family is very thankful for ADRA’s work, and we already enjoy its benefits. Our quality of life has improved, and the water tastes good. I hope we continue to be healthy and not get sick anymore.”
ADRA has drilled approximately 15 wells around Timor-Leste and installed numerous hand pump water stations so that villagers have abundant water in close proximity. Your donations help ADRA continue its clean water and sanitation projects in Timor-Leste, allowing communities to live healthier and happier lives.