The Need for Clean Water!

Right now, more than 1.1 billion people, mostly in developing nations, do not have access to safe, clean drinking water.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation causes 80% of all sickness and disease, and kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Many people in the developing world, usually women and children, walk more than three hours every day to fetch water that is likely to make them sick. Those hours are crucial, preventing many from working or attending school. Additionally, collecting water puts them at greater risk of sexual harassment and assault. Children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of unsafe water.

Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation, 90% are children under 5 years old.

One of the many organizations that is helping to address this problem, especially in Africa including Rwanda, is charity which was founded by Scott Harrison (he was in Liberia with Mercy Ships when Johanna arrived). Check out the charity website to learn more about the opportunities to make huge differences in people's lives for relatively little cost. For example a great idea is to donate a $20 bottle of water in someone's honor and thus provide clean drinking water in Africa for one person for 20 years! See the various versions of holiday cards.