Water Matters

The latest on our work and those supporting it



Water and Justice: Why a Just Transition Must Start with Clean Water


Thursday, February 20th, 2025by Jamie Heminway

World Day of Social Justice calls attention to the need for fairness and equity. Everyone who lacks access to water has been unjustly left behind — and every water project is a step toward equity.

 

The Water Crisis, Explained at Five Levels


Wednesday, February 5th, 2025by Jamie Heminway

Donors have asked us for tips on explaining the water crisis to their children. After all, we’ve seen kids do absolutely amazing things to combat water inequality, and we know how powerful their voices can be in swaying their friends, parents, and teachers to join the fight against the water crisis. Upon beginning The Water […]

 

Human Rights Day Through the Lens of Water Access


Wednesday, December 11th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Human Rights Day, celebrated on December 10, honors the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What role does water play in human rights?

 

A Hand Up, Not a Handout: Why Water Access Changes Everything


Wednesday, October 30th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Imagine it’s morning. You go to brush your teeth, make coffee, or start a shower — but there’s no water. In our modern world, it’s an inconvenience, sure, but it’s solvable. If your tap runs dry, you have options: you can pick up bottled water from a store, head to a friend’s place, or even […]

 

When There Isn’t Enough Water to Stay Clean


Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Life without ready access to clean water is tough for many reasons. Without water, it becomes difficult for people to keep themselves and their environments clean. This, in turn, infects people with hygiene-related diseases and hurts people’s dignity and sense of self.

 

How Water Access Empowers Women and Girls: Women’s Equality Day


Monday, August 26th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Why Water is Essential to Women’s Rights Today in the United States, it’s Women’s Equality Day, a day commemorating the day on which women in the United States gained the right to vote. While there are gender inequalities to address worldwide, one often-overlooked aspect of gender equality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is a lack of […]

 

Zainab’s Story


Wednesday, August 21st, 2024by Jamie Heminway

For ten-year-old Zainab (Zy-nab), work starts as the sun comes up — and oftentimes, before.

 

Another Reason Fetching Water Risks People’s Lives: Dangerous Wildlife on the Way to the Water Point


Wednesday, July 24th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

In our mostly rural work areas, animals and wildlife can be a daily concern for those who must travel any distance to collect water.

 

International Women’s Day 2024: Don’t Leave Some Behind


Friday, March 8th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. When I looked at the International Women’s Day website, I was struck by their missions: — https://www.internationalwomensday.com/  Of course, these are all admirable missions for women. But when I tried to relate all of these missions to the women we serve at The Water Project, it was difficult. […]

 

How Water Scarcity Breeds Violence


Wednesday, February 14th, 2024by Jamie Heminway

Where essential resources are scarce, the likelihood of violence of any type goes up. When people get desperate, they fight with others to secure enough resources for themselves and the ones they love. Constant strife, or even constant discomfort, is bound to make anyone irritable.  This concept makes sense intuitively. But it’s still shocking to […]