Water: It's vital to sustaining life
We all need it to survive, yet nearly one billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. What little water is available is usually poisoned by dirt, parasites and sewage.
It's often the first and most urgent need we address in a community. With sustainable sources of clean water and sanitation comes better health, the ability to focus on earning income and education, and hope for the future.
Together, we can see dramatic change—long-term—in the lives of the children and families we serve.
Hinda's story
Hinda Yassin is a widow and a mother of seven children. She lives in Somaliland (Northern Somalia), where it rains as little as three days a year. The nearest water source to Hinda's home—a tiny, dome-shaped tent in the desert—is two hours away. She walks this every day. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a solution…
Read how one day of rain can change Hinda's whole life.
Hinda's story
She lives on her own, tending her brother-in-law's goats for income.
The nearest water source is a two-hour walk for Hinda. Thankfully, she has a camel to help her carry her jerrycans back home each day. But filling those cans requires scooping dirty water with a cup from a small hole in the ground. You can imagine how long that takes.
You've heard the messages of how vital clean water is to sustaining life—how wells make the difference. But in places like Somaliland where Hinda lives, digging wells is next to impossible. The water table is too low, or the water is salty.
The only solution is a berkad—a giant underground tank that catches rainwater runoff. Here's what's really amazing: a berkad can fill to its capacity in one day of heavy rain, holding 70,000 gallons of water. This is enough to supply a small village with clean water for six months!
Hinda's husband had completed 95% of a berkad near their home before he died.
Here's where you and I come in. Together, we can finish building Hinda's berkad. Once the pit is lined with concrete and a roof is placed on top to keep the water clean, Hinda's whole life will change. She'll have water for her children—and for her neighbors. Plus, she can sell the water to others and earn a few hundred dollars a month. That's a generous income her family can live on, long-term.
We hope you'll join us to bring life-saving water to families like Hinda's. Any amount will be tripled, because of grants. So please, make your best gift today.
How We Help: Bringing Clean Water to Communities
We tailor our approach to specific needs in communities where we work. Depending on the depth of the water table, accessibility of the region, and cost, clean water can come from:
Deep Wells - Machine-drilled wells can be as deep as 1,000 feet. Accessing machinery in remote, hostile areas with little infrastructure is challenging. But when properly maintained, a well can serve a community for decades.
Shallow Wells - Hand-dug shallow wells are a cost-effective way to bring clean water to a family or neighborhood. These wells are typically about 100 feet deep, so they're only possible in places where the ground water is near the surface.
Berkads - These giant, semi-underground concrete tanks channel ground water run-off through a silt-trap, filtering and holding tens of thousands of gallons of water. One day of heavy rain can provide enough water for six months.
Rainwater Harvesting - Utilizing gutters on schools, health clinics, and public buildings, rain can be directed into enclosed tanks and stored safely, providing a sustainable source of fresh water for months.
Water Pans - We hire local laborers to excavate ponds called water pans. These ponds collect rainwater, which can be used for animals, or people, if the water is purified before use.
Partner with us to bring clean water to desperate families
Your support will:
- Help bring sustainable sources of clean water to desperate families
- Teach community members to maintain and benefit from their water sources long-term
- Improve health and sanitation, preventing deadly diseases from spreading
Because of grants, your donation triples, helping three times as many people. Please donate today.
