Nearly 4 million Ghanaians lack clean water, a burden felt most in rural clinics where midwives like Mabel and Ramicah struggle to provide safe care. Their facilities depend on contaminated open dams, forcing staff and patients to collect unsafe water that contributes to diarrhea, typhoid, skin infections, and dangerous conditions for mothers and newborns. Water shortages often lead to early discharges, and caregivers themselves fall ill. Child mortality remains high, with many deaths linked to poor water and sanitation. A new mechanized water system installed by World Vision transformed Ramicah’s clinic — providing clean water, functional sanitation, and increasing patient attendance. World Vision is assessing similar solutions for Mabel’s community and aims to expand safe water access across Ghana, including to 500 schools and 200 health facilities, benefiting 700,000 people. Their stories underscore the urgent need for lasting clean water.
News & Stories
Clean Water Stories
Catching rain and changing lives in Papua New Guinea
In Mamagota, Papua New Guinea, families once drank from a contaminated creek, causing frequent illness. A World Vision rainwater catchment system installed in 2023 now provides clean water, easing the burden on families and improving children’s health.
What you need to know about the global water crisis in photos and videos
The global water crisis affects millions of people, with 703 million lacking access to clean water. Explore this critical topic through powerful photos and videos captured by World Vision communicators, and learn how World Vision is responding.
Global water crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Access to clean water is essential, yet the global water crisis means many people are struggling to get the quantity and quality of water they need. As the leading nongovernmental provider of clean water in the developing world, World Vision aims to reach 30 million people with clean water between 2023 and 2030. Learn key facts about water, how water scarcity impacts vulnerable communities, and how you can help end the global water crisis.
For lasting change, just add clean water
Access to clean water has completely transformed the lives of Grace and her mother, Margaret, in Kenya. It’s not only led to better health and hygiene but has also helped improve school attendance and even opened up new business opportunities.
Too great a burden for a 12-year-old
Single mother Esther from Malawi made the difficult choice to leave her three daughters alone to find work in Mozambique. She’s usually gone for three weeks at a time while she works to support the family. Her 12-year-old daughter, Faith, cares for her younger sisters by feeding them, washing clothes, and making the long walk to get water for the family.
Clean water through a turn of the tap
Water piped in from the mountains surrounding this community of Guatemala has made a big difference in the lives of families living here. Community access, plus partnership with the local government and World Vision, has meant families can quickly access clean water for drinking and daily chores with a simple turn of the tap.
On the move with Team World Vision
Through Team World Vision, participants come together to compete in races, raise money to bring clean water around the world, and in the process, they find their own lives changed.
Walk for water: Your 6K vs. theirs
6K is the average distance round trip women and children in the developing world walk for water — water that is often contaminated with life-threatening diseases. How far is 6K? Compare a 6K here in the U.S. to a walk for water in Africa.
Dreams flow freely: Loveness and the gift of water
Time spent gathering water for her family led to school absences and failing grades, which almost stole Loveness’s dream of being a doctor. But with the introduction of a nearby clean water well, she could attend classes more regularly and now is free to pursue her dreams.