Water, Sanitation & Hygiene

Imagine a life where access to clean water – and the hygiene and hydration is provides - was a constant struggle and a constant risk. World Vision works with at-risk communities to ensure that safe, fresh water is never far away from anyone’s lips.

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  1. Veronica collects dirty water from an unkept spring near her village in Uganda.
  2. In Ethiopia, an irrigation scheme harnessing an underground spring helps farmers grow more crops.
  3. Communities in Niger drink dirty water from the Niger River and this causes illness and disease.
  4. Hayimnot, aged 4, drinks clean water from a covered well.
  5. Drinking and bathing in dirty water helps to spread diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and intestinal parasites.
  6. When a community gains access to clean water, improvements in the health and wellbeing of children follow.
  7. Children in this Cambodian village enjoy better health because of a new water well.
  8. World Vision is helping communities in Tanzania to gain access to clean water.
  9. In Chennai, India, Sathivani washes her family's clothes beside a sewerage drain in an overcrowded slum.

Who is it happening to?

Today, 900 million people worldwide still live without access to clean water, another 2.5 billion lack decent sanitation and 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases. The gravest concern is for those living in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania.

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Why is it happening?

The amount of water people use is directly related to how easy it is for them to obtain and how affordable it is. Affluent lifestyles make heavy demands on water.

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Where is it happening?

In Australia, average water use is around 180 litres per person per day. In Europe, it's 200 litres, while in the USA each person's daily consumption can reach a staggering 400 litres.*

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What is our response?

Lack of clean water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene have reached crisis point in the world's poorest countries. As Australians, we have the power to help ease this situation and improve the quality of life for people living in extreme poverty.

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How you can help?

Fresh water is the key to many of the world’s biggest health and poverty issues. Whether it’s drinking water to sustain human life, water for agriculture, infrastructure for hygienic communities, or fresh water supplies after disaster strikes, World Vision works every day to provide for disadvantaged communities, and needs your ongoing support.

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Let's talk about it

Your vision

Charne
Mar 08, 2010

"hi , my name is Charne, i was born and raised in Africa.<br />I recently moved to Australia , everyday i would see people starving , begging for money and shelter. ..."

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Wendy Cao
Nov 19, 2009

"in China they have made cmposting toilets and also use the gas it produce for cooking, one stone kill two birds. "

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claudia-rose
Nov 17, 2009

"i feel really upset every time i hear about them so i found this signed up hoping we can make a differace"

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Claudia
Nov 15, 2009

"I know. Its terrifying. How can people do this to others. What kind of place would the world be without companies like World Vision?!"

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