Water Builds Peace: World Water Week 2024
Safe water access creates an opportunity for peace for people around the world. As hundreds of organizations prepare to attend World Water Week at Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Water Mission takes the time to remember the “why” behind our work to provide peace through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions.
In 2016, Nora’s husband was killed in South Sudan due to violent conflict throughout the country. With her young children in tow, Nora fled South Sudan to the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in the Turkana region of Kenya.
Although she no longer faces the humanitarian crisis in her home country, she now worries about another kind: the global water crisis.
Nora’s journey to collect water in Kalobeyei settlement is a two-hour round trip that is often dangerous for women and girls to walk, as they can be assaulted along the way. When Nora considers the lack of water access, she says, “I don’t sleep at night. I am thinking and thinking and thinking. I have no peace.”
In 2024, Water Mission began a project to serve refugees in the Turkana region. Our engineers are working to design solutions to address the unique issues in settlements so that each person will have safe water and the opportunity for peace. Water Mission staff members will share about our work in refugee settlements during World Water Week, which will take place from August 25-29, 2024. We will join hundreds of other organizations at the conference in Stockholm to discuss this year’s theme, “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future.”
Alongside Plan International and Grundfos Foundation, during a session titled “The Transformative Power of WASH in Refugee Hosting Communities,” our team will discuss the collaboration between Plan International and Water Mission to apply climate-resilient WASH services in refugee communities.
“WASH implementation in refugee hosting communities has not been status quo,” shared Lara Lambert, Water Mission’s Senior Director of Program Development. “There are complex challenges that accompany implementation among the same cultural groups, let alone multi-cultural groups, for example, refugees and the communities to which they are fleeing. This topic is important for discussion so the sector can explore solutions to these challenges and understand the potential barriers to sustainable and equitable services.”
Along with sharing about our work, Water Mission’s presence at SIWI is important for networking and collaboration with other organizations. The conference serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our efforts to bring safe water to people in need.
“SIWI provides a unique platform for collaboration,” said Mandy Goksu, Water Mission’s Senior Director of Global Partnerships. “This year, Water Mission will highlight its peace and security work in delivering safe water for refugees and host country populations. We also look forward to hearing from our colleagues about what’s working well in climate and water adaptation, and identifying where we can partner to improve sector outcomes."
As our staff travel to attend the conference and prepare to learn from other organizations, they remember people like Nora, for whom safe water will provide peace and safety. Lambert commented, “My objective is to continue to have our ears to the ground on the trends in the sector so that we can remain informed and use research and best practices to serve people with excellence.”
To celebrate World Water Week 2024, read more about Water Mission’s work in Turkana’s refugee camps, and learn how you can help build peace for people around the world.
Related Impact Stories
