Education Initiative
Since 2011, Water Mission’s Education Initiative has been supported by trained, experienced education advocates passionate about teaching youth about the global water crisis and Water Mission’s work. This resource aims to provide tools and activities to engage students around the water crisis in Charleston and nationwide.
Charleston-Area Tours
Our team welcomes Charleston-area classes to our global headquarters, allowing students to discover the need for safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions around the world. Additional lab exercises provide hands-on learning about engineering and filtration.
When you take a field trip to Water Mission, we will provide a tour of our facility, engage students with fun, hands-on experiences, and provide an opportunity to meet the Water Mission team and learn about our safe water technologies.
To visit our headquarters without being part of the Education Initiative, please visit our tours page.
To inquire about Water Mission’s Education Initiative and learn more about field trips, school visits, and other resources, please contact us at [email protected].
Nationwide Resources for Educators
If you are outside Charleston, please contact our team, and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, please review and download our free educational resources below.
What Is the Global Water Crisis?
Here are a few quick facts about a solvable issue affecting billions of people around the world.
Safe Water
2 billion people lack access to safe water.
Basic Sanitation
3.6 billion
Missed School
443 million
Meet a Family from South America
2 billion people around the world lack access to clean, safe water. Many are children like your students. Every day they must walk an average of three miles to collect water for their families. Oftentimes, the only water available is dirty, unsafe water that makes them sick and unable to play or go to school. Esteisy is a young Peruvian girl who is now healthy and attends school because of clean, safe water.
After watching, ask your students the following questions to help reflect:
- How is your life similar to Esteisy’s life?
- How is it different?
- Have you ever had to think about getting enough water for your entire family for one day?
- If you had to collect water, how would you do it? How would that impact you and your family?
You Can Help Transform Lives!
Here are a few ways you and your students can help by raising awareness and funds to bring clean, safe water to people around the world.
Raise Awareness
Tell two or more friends about Water Mission and the global water crisis.
Share Water Mission’s work on your parent’s social media or your own (with parent/guardian permission).
Read the books “Water Princess” or “A Long Walk to Water,” and tell your family and ask your teacher if you can share what you learned with the class.
Raise Funds
Host a lemonade stand (download the kit), bake sale, or yard sale (with parent/guardian permission) to raise funds for safe water projects.
Ask friends and family to pledge support for each lap you walk around your neighborhood while carrying a bucket of water.
Invite friends and family to a Water Mission Walk for Water event near you (or start your own).
Education Resources
We invite you to download and use one or all of the educational resources developed for you and your students.
Recommended Reading
Witnessing children become passionate about ending the global water crisis is exciting. We would love for children and adults to grow in their awareness of this critical issue. Below are two books we suggest for students, teachers, and families to learn more about what life is like around the world for those who do not have access to clean, safe water.
Water Mission encourages you to review these books to determine readiness and age appropriateness for your children/students both in reading level and content readiness.
The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Grade level K-3
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Grade level 4-7
Contact Us
Thank you for caring about your global neighbors, and for your interest in Water Mission's Education Initiative. Together we can transform lives through clean, safe water. Our team will be happy to answer any questions.
