Community Development Archives

2020 Snapshot: Serving 1.6 Million People Around the World Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted January 20th, 2021 by Water Mission.

2020 opened with the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic—introducing even more urgent needs for safe water and fresh challenges to providing that access. Yet with your support and prayers, Water Mission was able to serve more people in this difficult year than ever before. Together, we delivered safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to over 1.6 million people around the world. While we quickly developed new protocols and specific solutions to meet COVID-related needs, we also accelerated our ongoing work in rural communities, crowded refugee settings, and in response to natural disasters. Our 400 staff members, based at our U.S. headquarters and in nine permanent country ... Read More

Water Mission’s 15th Annual Walk for Water: Walk So Others Don’t Have To

Posted January 12th, 2021 by Water Mission.

Today, you’ll likely use water countless times—to drink, cook, shower, brush your teeth, flush the toilet, and more—without worrying whether the water is safe. More than 2.2 billion people around the world lack access to clean, safe water. Every day, millions of women and children walk more than three miles to collect water that is often contaminated—exposing their families to dangerous waterborne diseases. As we enter into this new year, we invite you to join us to help more families around the globe receive access to clean, safe water. With the 15th Annual Walk for Water scheduled for March 20 in Charleston, we’re reminded that, even in this unprecedented season, we still have the opportunity to serve others. What will the Walk look like this year? While this year’s Walk may look a little different, the mission remains the same: Bringing awareness and raising funds to end the global water crisis. This year, walkers ... Read More

Transforming a “Desolate Savannah” into “The Little Town That Could”

Posted January 5th, 2021 by Water Mission.

The tiny community of Guimby, Haiti, is home to 925 men, women, and children whose lives have been forever changed by the presence of a brand-new, sustainable safe water system in their town. Thanks to your support, the tireless work of Guimby’s town leaders, and our Haiti team, this farming community no longer has to ration its limited water supply between livestock and family needs. Before 2020, women and children would make difficult journeys through mountainous terrain every day to collect water for their families. Guimby was known locally as “the desolate savannah of Haiti.” The town suffers from an extremely dry climate and severe water scarcity. Delancia Michel, a mother of two young daughters, used to spend hours each day gathering ... Read More

The Journey to Recovery Following Hurricanes Eta and Iota

Posted December 22nd, 2020 by Water Mission.

In early November, Hurricane Eta left a path of devastation throughout Honduras, causing extensive flooding and damage and forcing entire communities to evacuate to emergency shelters. Two weeks later, Hurricane Iota took a similar path through Central America, impacting many of the same communities that experienced significant damage. In Honduras alone, these back-to-back storms affected more than 3 million people, displacing nearly 180,000 from their homes. After any natural disaster, safe water is the number one need. Water Mission’s Honduras team immediately began trucking in water from the country office in Tocoa, to emergency shelters and impacted communities. It has now been weeks since the storms hit the country, but Water Mission continues to respond ... Read More

Why Water is an Oasis of Peace for Refugees: Oreni’s Story

Posted December 17th, 2020 by Water Mission.

When the threat of violence and war came to her home country of Burundi, Oreni was forced to flee without her husband to Tanzania with their four young children in tow. Safe water is one less thing to worry about now for Oreni. She says, “It took us two days to get to the border of Tanzania. It was hard because I had the four kids with me. We were on foot. We were very afraid because there were people looking for those who were fleeing, like us. But we made it to the border. It was terrible leaving home—we left everything we ... Read More

Water Brings Unity After Tragedy, Andi’s Story

Posted December 15th, 2020 by Water Mission.

The people of Palu, Indonesia—a city of over 300,000 people—suffered twin tragedies when a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the region and triggered a dangerous tsunami. More than 2,000 lives were lost, over 200,000 people were displaced, and nearly 70,000 homes were destroyed on that fateful day in September 2018. With an established country program in Indonesia, Water Mission was one of the few organizations invited to participate in the local disaster response. We mobilized within hours, shipping more than 1 million P&G Purifier of Water packets and 20 Living Water Treatment Systems to immediately serve those affected. The packets could provide emergency water treatment for up to ... Read More

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News

2020 Snapshot: Serving 1.6 Million People Around the World Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Water Mission’s 15th Annual Walk for Water: Walk So Others Don’t Have To

Transforming a “Desolate Savannah” into “The Little Town That Could”

The Journey to Recovery Following Hurricanes Eta and Iota

Why Water is an Oasis of Peace for Refugees: Oreni’s Story

Water Brings Unity After Tragedy, Andi’s Story