Most young girls around the world will wake up in the morning, have breakfast and get ready for school. But in many parts of Africa, a girl will wake up, and immediately start on a long journey of walking far in search of water. Regardless of if it is clean or not. 

In Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, and Afghanistan, among other countries where we operate, we have seen first hand the impact this has on young girls in particular. 

Today, it is estimated that around 130 million girls under the age of 18 around the world are not attending school. While many young girls search for water for hours, they miss out on valuable hours of education, which limits their progress and ability to build careers and ambitions. 

Studies have shown that educated women not only are able to contribute to the workforce, but are also empowered through their ability to make decisions that impact them and their families. 

As unsafe water and inaccessibility of sanitation continue to be leading factors behind poverty, young girls are the ones who bear the brunt of this the most, as in many communities, they have the responsibility of housework and collecting water. 

The United Nations has reiterated that addressing the needs of women and girls in relation to water and sanitation is key in achieving gender equality and unlocking womens’ potential.

Young girls also face extreme difficulties when it comes to menstruating with a lack of clean and safe water available to them. In what is already seen as taboo or shameful in some communities, a lack of basic needs is a significant obstacle to a lot of young girls menstruating. Without toilets with clean water or proper resources, the spread of disease is more common, as well as girls experiencing feelings of shame. 

However, clean water allows girls to have a dignified life and an opportunity to focus on their education. Safe water also means improved health for young girls, which helps them in the future become valuable members of society. 

We have seen first hand how safe and clean water boosts the confidence of young girls and empowers them. In the long term, this has positive effects in wider society, socially and economically. 

In the communities we have installed water wells or boreholes, we have seen girls over time become more equal to males in society, and dream of a brighter future ahead.