Clean Water Archives - Time to Help (UK)

Blessing’s Story

In the heart of Uganda, a remarkable young girl named Blessing is living a life that exemplifies resilience, determination, and the pursuit of dreams. At just 14 years old, Blessing is in year seven and aspires to become a scientist, but her journey is far from ordinary. She faces a daily challenge that most of us can hardly imagine – the lack of access to clean water.

Blessing’s dream of becoming a scientist is fuelled by her insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Despite the numerous obstacles in her path, she remains unwavering in her determination to achieve her dreams. She envisions a future where she can make a difference in her community and contribute to the scientific advancements of her country. But in order to pursue her education and dreams, Blessing faces a daily ordeal that many of us take for granted – fetching water.

For Blessing and countless other children in Uganda, access to clean water is a daily struggle. Instead of focusing solely on her studies and pursuing her passion for science, Blessing is burdened with the responsibility of carrying water for her school and home twice a day. This is not just a physical challenge but also a tremendous drain on her time and energy.

When I had the privilege of visiting Blessing’s school, I had the opportunity to experience her daily routine firsthand. Together, we carried containers filled with water from a distant source, and it was an eye-opening experience. The weight of the water felt heavy on my shoulders, and I could only imagine how challenging it must be for Blessing to do this every single day.

Carrying water with Blessing was a humbling experience that highlighted the importance of empathy. It allowed me to better understand the daily struggles that Blessing and many other young girls like her face in their pursuit of education and dreams. It also reinforced the significance of the work being done by organisations and individuals dedicated to improving access to clean water in Uganda and around the world.

Blessing’s story is a reminder that access to clean water is not just a basic necessity but a fundamental human right. It should not be a barrier to education or hinder the dreams and aspirations of young individuals like Blessing.

As we reflect on Blessing’s journey, we are called to action. We are responsible for supporting initiatives that aim to provide clean water to communities in need, ensuring that children like Blessing can focus on their education and chase their dreams without the burden of carrying water.

Blessing’s determination to become a scientist despite the daily water challenges she faces is truly inspirational. Her story reminds us of the resilience and strength that can be found in the most challenging circumstances. As we strive for a world where every child has access to clean water, let Blessing’s story serve as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of dreams and determination. Together, we can help Blessing and others like her turn their dreams into reality.

Yusuf Celik

Head of International Programmes

Yusuf Celik
Head of İnternational Program Manager

Time to Help (UK)

Transforming Lives: Building Water Wells in Africa

Access to clean water is a fundamental necessity for human life, yet millions of people around the world, particularly in Africa, still lack this primary resource. In many remote regions of the continent, communities struggle to obtain safe drinking water, leading to numerous health issues and hindering socio-economic development. Building water wells in Africa has proven to be a transformative solution, addressing immediate needs and creating a ripple effect of positive impacts on people’s lives. This blog post explores the significance of constructing water wells in Africa and the profound changes they bring to communities.

Alleviating Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is a pressing issue faced by many African communities. Traditional water sources such as rivers, ponds, or unprotected wells often harbour contaminants, making the water unfit for consumption. By building water wells, access to clean and safe water becomes a reality. These wells are strategically located to reach the maximum number of people within a community, reducing the distance and time spent collecting water and relieving the burden on women and children, who are typically responsible for water collection.

Promoting Health and Sanitation

Clean water is pivotal in promoting public health and reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases. Waterborne illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid are prevalent in areas without access to safe water. Constructing water wells helps combat these diseases by providing a reliable source of clean water, significantly improving hygiene practices within communities. Access to water for proper hand washing, cooking, and personal hygiene prevents diseases and enhances overall well-being, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Enhancing Education Opportunities

The availability of clean water profoundly impacts education, particularly for young girls. In many parts of Africa, children, especially girls, are responsible for fetching water, often walking long distances to fulfil this essential task. The time spent collecting water compromises their ability to attend school regularly and perform well academically. Building water wells near schools ensures that children can access safe water throughout the day, eliminating the need to travel long distances. This positively influences school attendance and allows students, especially girls, to devote more time to their education.

Empowering Economic Growth

Water wells serve as catalysts for economic growth within communities. A readily available water source enhances agricultural productivity, allowing farmers to grow crops more efficiently and diversify their yields. Irrigation systems powered by water wells enable communities to cultivate even in dry seasons, thereby boosting food security. Additionally, surplus crops can be sold, generating income and entrepreneurship opportunities. Access to clean water also facilitates the establishment of small-scale businesses, such as laundry services, brick-making, and food processing, further driving economic development.

Fostering Community Development and Empowerment

The construction of water wells fosters community cohesion and empowerment. Often, local communities actively participate in the wells’ planning, construction, and maintenance, promoting ownership and sustainability. The collective effort strengthens social ties, encourages cooperation, and instils a sense of pride within the community. As communities gain control over their water resources, they become better equipped to address their future needs, leading to empowerment and resilience.

Conclusion

Building water wells in Africa is a powerful intervention that brings about transformative change in the lives of individuals and communities. Access to clean and safe water alleviates water scarcity, improves health, enhances education opportunities, stimulates economic growth, and fosters community development. These wells serve as a lifeline for communities, propelling them towards a brighter future with improved well-being and increased self-sufficiency. By investing in water infrastructure and supporting initiatives focused on water access, we can help build a more sustainable and equitable Africa where every person has the opportunity to thrive.

Clean Water Volunteer Water

Why Everyone Needs Clean Drinking Water?

Science clearly states that a human being can survive three weeks without food, but where water is concerned most people can’t go on 3-4 days without it! Dehydration sets in, and even if the person continues to breathe, they will go into shock and become vegetative. In other words, water is the primary necessity. Without it, a living being simply cannot survive. Yet, it is a horrific fact that there are billions of people around the world who do not have access to clean drinking water.

Facts about Lack of Clean Water Sources

In developed nations, i.e., countries that have everything from technology to luxury, getting clean water at home is as ‘natural’ as breathing fresh air. It is something that most people from advanced countries may not particularly pay attention to, but this is not the case for the rest of the world. There are still many nations that do not have access to clean water sources or water that is fit for human consumption. Here are some shocking facts about water access around the world:

Approximately 2.1 billion people all over the world still are unable to access safe water sources within their home
In New York, USA, 8.3 million people were exposed to water contaminants in their drinking water that included viruses and various kinds of bacteria
Since 2015, more than 63 million people in India alone have consumed water from unsafe sources
In sub-Saharan Africa alone more than half of the population drink water that comes from ‘dangerous’ resources, like surface water. Approximately 102 million people are drinking surface water
In many provinces of South Africa, water is sometimes unavailable for two whole days. This happens approximately 60% of the time.
In Nepal, 91% of the population is drinking water from sources that contain E-coli, a fecal bacteria that can lead to many diseases including bacterial (stomach) infections.
5 Reasons Why Everyone Deserves Clean Drinking Water

According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, “Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege of only those who are rich or live in urban centers. These are some of the most basic requirements for human health, and all countries have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them.”

Sadly, clean water is still inaccessible for many and will remain that way until governments are willing to take a stand. Here are five reasons why everyone needs access to clean drinking water and safely managed sanitation, right at home.

1. Provides Nourishment

Water is life. The sooner those in power understand this, the sooner this law of water being available to everyone can be implemented. Water is the number one source of nutrition. The human body is made of 60% water, and this is a clear enough indication of the importance of water. Humans need to be adequately hydrated for their physiological systems to function. Additionally, water helps maintain organ health and allows the blood to maintain the consistency it requires to flow freely and transport oxygen and nutrients to every cell of the body.

2. The Prevention of Diseases

Did you know that if people are unable to drink safe and clean water, it gives rise to various kinds of diseases? Fatal medical conditions like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A all occur because of the consumption and or the presence of contaminated water. Imagine the risks that people are exposed to when the only thing they can drink is water that comes from sewage and contaminated sites like industries. Clean water is essential not only to remain safe from disease but also to maintain good health.

3. Helps in Getting Rid of Toxins

Clean, fresh and safe water also helps in getting the body rid of all kinds of toxins, whether they are created due to bodily reactions, obtained from outside sources or ones that occur because of the consumption of contaminated water.

4. Needed for Agriculture and Food Production

When it comes to the production of food, clean water is an essential ingredient. If the crops and grains are given contaminated water, the bacteria and disease will spread to those who consume the fresh produce. Therefore, water that is used for agriculture must also come from safe and clean resources.

5. Improved Sanitation Facilities

Clean water is not just needed for drinking but for sanitation purposes as well. If clothes are washed, or the body is washed with contaminated water, this too will result in the rise of diseases. Same is the case for cooking, cleaning and other similar tasks that are an integral part of our lives. Clean water is necessary for good health.

Source: http://www.aidforum.org/topics/health-and-wash/5-reasons-why-everyone-needs-clean-drinking-water/

Charity Clean Water Community Donation Volunteer Water

Why so many people struggle to access clean water?

It seems incredible that it’s 2021 and there’s still 773 million people around the world who don’t have access to clean water — a basic human right that no one can live without.

Four reasons why people don’t have access to clean water:
1.) Lack of infrastructure and poor management of services.

Efforts have been made to reach more people with more water. However governments need to do more in ensuring water supplies are sustainable and commit to improving infrastructure.

2.) Poverty and inequality

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene are a basic human right and yet some people are still unable to access these services due to their ethnicity, gender, social status, disability or inability to afford the high costs.

3.) Climate change

Climate change and an increase in unpredictable and extreme weather is a growing challenge. Long periods of drought affect clean water supplies while flooding can pollute clean water sources and cause outbreaks of disease.

4.) Population increase

The world’s population is predicted to grow to 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. This is going to create a high demand and put a strain on already scarce and fragile water sources.

Can you imagine living without water? No, because that would be impossible. Here’s what happens when your water source is insecure and unsafe.

Three ways a lack of access to clean water impacts on the poor:
1.) Women and Girls

In many communities girls are tasked with collecting the households water. If supplies are scarce or the community is isolated it means girls are spending hours of their day to walk great distances to collect water from streams, rivers and unprotected wells. This means less time for paid work and going to school.

2.) Livelihood

Rural communities who rely on farming for their livelihoods are the most vulnerable to climate change and water shortages. Increased temperatures, changes in season, and prolonged dry spells affect crops and livestock and therefore a person’s ability to earn a living.

3.) Health

As the effects of climate change and rising temperatures increase, so does the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as cholera and trachoma. The World Health Organisation also warns that incidences of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue will also rise. Another impact of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene is malnutrition. In fact up to 50% of malnutrition cases are said to be a result of this.

Charity Clean Water Community Donation Volunteer Water