Years ago in The Congo, I was waiting in line to collect water when my friend snapped this picture. Finding a water source, collecting water, and then carrying the heavy full jugs back to camp were part of the daily necessity in many of the areas we went through in Africa. We would then boil it or treat it with iodine tablets to make sure it was potable, an intestinal parasite could be deadly for us so far from medical facilities, as it still is today for much of the world population.
The Author Collecting Water in The Congo
Girls Carrying Yellow Water Jugs in The Congo Photo by Elizabeth Atalay
Like these young girls in this village in the Congo:
millions of women are prohibited from accomplishing little more than survival. Not because of a lack of ambition, or ability, but because of a lack of safe water and adequate sanitation. Millions of women and children in the developing world spend untold hours daily, collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, then return to their villages carrying their filled 40 pound jerry cans on their backs. – water.org
Women collecting water in The Congo Photo by Elizabeth Atalay
I returned home from six months of overland travel through the African continent changed by my experience. Yet I easily slipped back into the ease of turning on the tap for water, showering daily, and the luxury of a flush toilet instead of the woods. The women from those areas without any of the above, and their daughters, continue to struggle with those daily inconveniences. Water.org has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector.
I have joined The Mission List and Water.org in a ten day challenge to raise awareness about water issues, and help raise funds to change peoples lives. If we work together we can end this crisis in our lifetime. Only $25 brings one person clean water for life. My goal is in ten days to provide water for life to at least ten people. I’d love for you to join me by spreading the word, donating to The Mission List fundraiser, starting your own fundraiser, or just learning more about the water crisis. Together we can make a difference.
