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
Global 6K for Water
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
Walking with the poor: Solving the global water crisis
Rich Stearns reflects on how when you partner with World Vision, you are walking with the poor. Mothers, fathers, and children feel your love and support across the miles. And with that comes a sense of God’s love. Knowing they’re not alone in their struggles lightens their load.
From the Field
World Water Day: Every 10 seconds one person gets clean water
As we commemorate World Water Day, March 22, World Vision celebrates reaching its 2020 goal to bring clean water to one person every 10 seconds. Well-drilling teams, engineers, geologists, and community leaders in dozens of countries worked tirelessly through 2016 to accomplish that goal three years ahead of schedule. Ultimately, we hope to provide access to clean water to every person in every community where we work around the world.
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
Seeing the real faces of the global water crisis
663 million people don’t have clean water. It’s time to start putting real faces to this number. Start with one. Because one more child with clean water brings 663 million down to 662,999,999. And one by one we can bring clean water to children across the globe.
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!