Poverty in Africa Begins With a Lack of Clean Water
Poverty and Water are Related
There are a number of reasons why poverty has become an epidemic in Africa. Poverty can be the result of political instability, ethnic conflicts, climate change and other man-made causes.
But one of the greatest causes of poverty in Africa is also the most overlooked...the lack of access to clean drinking water.
Nearly one billion people do not have access to clean, safe water. For these people, poverty is a fact of life.
The good news... This is a solvable problem.
How does water affect poverty in Africa?
Access to clean water is the foundation of all development. The lack of water is therefore an often insurmountable obstacle to helping oneself. You can't grow food, you can't build housing, you can't stay healthy, you don't go to school and you can't keep working. Without clean water, poverty is inevitable.
The Solutions are Simple and Inexpensive
For often less than $10 per person, The Water Project is able to work with local well drillers to provide access to clean water. You can be a part of the solution to the poverty gripping the developing world.
By making a donation today, you'll change lives forever.
Learning more about water and poverty
Sickness and Poverty
Poor health leads to poor productivity. The sickness caused by dirty water saps people's energy to do much of anything. Just remember what it was like the last time you had food poisoning. It's the same thing.
Students who suffer from water borne illness can't stay in class. They miss out on the chance to learn and the cycle of poverty continues.
The lack of safe water and proper sanitation in the developing world is felt most by rural dwellers and the urban poor. With few medical resources at their disposal, the poor are particularly vulnerable to chronic illnesses that hinder their productivity, making the escape from poverty even more difficult.
Wasted Time
With unclean water sources often miles from villages, many of the able bodied members of a community are forced to spend hours each day simply finding and transporting water.
This is incredibly valuable time. With much of one's day already consumed by meeting basic needs, these hours lost to gathering water are often the difference between time to do a trade and earn a living and not.
The social and economic effects cause by a lack of clean water are often the highest priorities of African communities when they speak of their own development.
Your Response
Our goal is to bring clean, sustainable water supplies to within a 1km (1/2 mile) of a village. By doing so, communities can be freed to begin working themselves out of poverty.
We need your help
When you give to help build a well, you'll make sustainable agriculture possible. You will allow children to get back to school instead of collecting dirty water all day.
You'll help father's find more time to care for their family, maintain a farm, and even run a small business.
You can help break the cycle of poverty in Africa.
How can you help?
You can begin by choosing to support one of our current water projects. Even a small contribution can make an enormous impact!
To see some other ways to help, click here
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“The opportunity to help others puts a joy in your heart like nothing else can. Our whole school was able to be a part of something that will forever change people's lives...We look forward to seeing the project completed.”
- Casey, H.S. Student
