“In my role supporting the Samaritan’s Purse clean water project in Ethiopia, I have visited Gibe and Gombora; two districts within this region where sadly only 10% of the community can access water that is safe to drink.

Most people collect water from natural sources, such as rivers, dams and ponds. As a result, outbreaks of diarrhoea and typhoid diseases are common within the community, with sadly over 75% of health problems in children stemming from drinking unsafe water.” Jonny Wilkinson Programme Development Officer, Ethiopia Country Office (read Jonny’s letter from Ethiopia).

The Burden of Collecting Water Falls on Women And Girls

In Ethiopian culture the back-breaking work of collecting water falls mainly on women and girls, who often have to travel for over five hours to source water. These journeys can often be made alone and sometimes at night—exposing them to the risk of assault, and often causing young girls to miss schooling.

Imagine—for the lack of being able to turn on a tap, your children or grandchildren risk their future. Even if they survive diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, they face a daily cycle of collecting water into their old age.

In our village, children are also supposed to help their mothers with the water collection. Since the whole water collection process can take between five and six hours, it is common here for children to miss their classes at school.

—Amerach

Together we can break the cycle of endless labour and waterborne illness for young girls and families.

Together, we can provide improved access to clean and safe water for nearly 25,000 people; including 7,500 school children.

A gift today can ensure young girls are able to focus on schooling, rather than being trapped in a cycle of back-breaking labour collecting what is often dirty and unsafe water. It can improve their life chances safe in the knowledge that their families are protected from waterborne disease with easy access to all the clean water they need.

When wells are repaired, new filters are built, and local people are trained in how to maintain access to clean water, overall health improves and long back-breaking journeys to fetch what is often dirty water are no longer needed.

One young girl we have already supported told us that she felt so blessed by the love she and her family had been shown that she was determined to grow up to be a teacher, so she in turn could help others.

See the Difference Your Gift Can Make