Nearly one billion people do not have access to clean, safe water which is an equivalent of 1 in 8 people on the planet. Poverty in Africa has a strong relationship with the lack of access to clean, safe water and sanitation. The absence of water is often insurmountable obstacles to helping oneself. Without clean water, the possibility of breaking the cycle of poverty is incredibly slim. In Uganda, women and children are the center of this crisis every minute of their day.

Provision of clean drinking water stands as a major prerogative of successful sustainable development in developed and developing countries. This responsibility, however, places a heavy burden of care on women and girls and affects several aspects of their lives. Where girls walk long distances to fetch water, they may arrive late and fatigued to attend school, or not be able to attend at all. The search for clean water sees able-bodied women and children in Uganda communities spending many hours daily finding and transporting water in containers (jerry cans) weighing over 40 pounds!

Water access mirrors the gender inequalities in other realms of life, such as employment, household division of labour, exposure to and management of risk, access to services and decision-making. Women are often the main providers and managers of water in households, especially in rural households, particularly in rural or peri-urban areas.
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In instances where women do not have access to proper sanitation such as latrines, they have to walk to communal toilets or public spaces. Night-time trips often put them at increased risk of physical attack and sexual violence. Women also have particular hygiene needs in relation to menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, and lack of water provides particular discomfort and distress. The absence of clean water and sanitation also increases the risk of infections and diarrheal diseases for everyone.

UN estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa alone loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water. The World Health Organisation has reported that fixing the water crisis is timely and incredibly valuable with every $ 1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $ 3 and $ 34! The goal for our Water and sanitation program is to improve the health and socio-economic well-being of communities by reducing the incidence of water and sanitation-related diseases through provision of sustainable safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in home steads and schools. Fixing the water challenge facilitates the sustainable agriculture, children will go back to school instead of collecting dirty water all day, or getting sick from waterborne diseases mothers will be able to find ample time care for their families, carry out more farming and even run small businesses.

Through your generous contributions, PAWOA will be able to provide more vulnerable communities access to safe, reliable and clean water through construction of boreholes, distribution of water tanks to schools, health centres and vulnerable homesteads.