On average, that woman walks about 6K, or 3.7 miles, to get water for her family. Depending on the size of that jerrycan, she’s carrying up to 44 pounds when it’s full. And carrying water that way could have long-term negative health effects.
News & Stories
Africa
Special Features
Water within reach: Compare two 5-year-olds’ walk for water
APRIL 11, 2017, KENYA — Cheru and Kamama live in rural Kenya, and like millions of African children, they help their mothers carry water every day. Though the 5-year-olds live just 16 miles apart, for one, getting water is a three-hour struggle; for the other, it’s a seven-minute stroll. Walk with them.
From the Field
What’s in the water will make you sick
Monica is like millions of women in Africa who carry home dirty water from a waterhole. What’s in the water makes her children sick.
From the Field
Walk for water: Moms bear the burden when water is scarce
Two Kenyan mothers desire education, independence, and health for their daughters, but only one has assurance her daughter’s life can be better than her own.
Voices
A Kenya childhood: Growing up without clean water
Growing up in rural Kenya, Sam Irungu knew the daily struggle of collecting dirty water from the early age of 5. Today, he works as a software engineer for World Vision! He attributes this change to God: an answer to his mother’s prayer to redeem the life of God’s children for a better tomorrow.
Voices
Podcast with members of Foster the People, MTV’s ‘Scream’
In this podcast, hear about a trip with members of Foster the People and MTV’s “Scream” to see the moment when water arrived in a Ugandan community.
Voices
Nivesh begins to dream of water and beyond
Without clean water, you and your clothes stay dirty. Imagine being too ashamed to go to church. To school. Without hope or community around you. Nivesh is a girl whose dreams were dying before they ever had a chance. See how the promise of clean water is giving new life to her dreams!
From the Field
Blessings overflow: Clean water makes Everlyn’s future bright
Everlyn’s in school, her mother’s garden is thriving, and her family’s faith is stronger. Child sponsorship and clean water have made all the difference.
From the Field
Despite fear, Nivesh walks for water
Though she fears being abducted and killed, 11-year-old Nivesh gets water from a stream in southern Zambia three times a day to keep her family alive.
From the Field
A father’s painful choice: Ruth walks a dangerous trek for water
Before clean water came to her community in Zambia, 11-year-old Ruth walked a scary route many times a day to collect dirty water that often made her family sick.