Why We Exist

	Safe drinking water is a basic human right, essential to realising all human rights. Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, accessible, affordable water supplies. Yet, where a child is born often determines whether or not their drinking water is safe! 99.8% of Canadian citizens have safe drinking water, with most action needed in First Nations. In contrast, the situation in Haiti is deteriorating, with only 58% of its people having access to an improved water source; Kenya is at 63%, Nigeria 69%, and Liberia 76%... although the situation for most rural residents remains far more bleak.

	Unsafe water is a leading cause of disease & death. Globally, at least 2 billion people use a drinking water source contaminated with faeces. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. Over 800,000 people/year die from diarrhoea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. *Diarrhea kills more children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined!* 40 children die every hour from diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation, poor hygiene, or unsafe drinking water. 50% of the hospital beds hold patients suffering from water-related illnesses!

	Women & Girls bear the burden of water Every day, women & children around the globe spend 200 million hours collecting water! Culturally, men don't carry the bucket. Water jugs are very heavy, causing fatigue, musculoskeletal damage and early degenerative bone and soft tissue damage over time. Unsafe water traps Girls in Poverty Hauling water before & after school leaves girls with less time & energy than boys to do well in school Many girls drop out to "help at home" since women often can't earn an income or garden because of the effort to collect water and care for children who fall ill from water-related illnesses. Hauling water from distant sources, often in the dark, leaves girls vulnerable to rape.

	Sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest need yet the lowest capacity to meet the need Two-thirds of sub-Saharan African countries rank among the lowest in the Human Development Index. Half the people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than a dollar a day. Many girls risk their lives every day, just getting water to drink! When opportunities arise to get safe water, the ability of villages is constrained by crushing poverty. Even clinics lack safe water! In low- and middle-income countries, 38% of health care facilities lack an improved water source, 19% do not have improved sanitation, and 35% lack water and soap for handwashing.

	Why is this "our problem"? We have an emotional responsibility to help any child in peril, no matter where they are born. Tens of thousands of children's lives/year can be saved by helping them get safe drinking water! We can talk about gender equality... or help make it happen. One study reported a 12% increase in school attendance by girls when water was available within a 15 minutes walk. North America has 10% of the world's people, yet half its wealth! It is our moral duty and joy to share with those in need. Beyond altruism, we live in a global community. We ignore poverty at our own peril for it is the root cause of the dispair that fuels unrest, terrorism and massive population migrations. We can spend our money fighting these issues. Or we can spend it addressing the underlying problems and help people live secure, healthy lives in their home communities.

	What about the government? Canada's 2018 international development assistance is well below the average spent by its peers in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Clearly, we can't count on the government to deal with this problem alone. What about you and me? The SOLUTION is simple: People working together to equip the rural poor to help themselves.