Did you know in communities around the world, women and children are tasked with getting the needed water for the family each day? This often laborious undertaking must be accomplished first thing in the morning, many times even before dawn. The trip to get water is generally several miles one way over rocky terrain. For the children, this leaves little time for school or play. For the women, it is painstaking work that often leads to chronic health problems.
In the areas WaterStep serves, the water the women and children work so hard to bring back for their families is likely contaminated. Retrieved from a water source used by people for drinking, bathing and laundry and also utilized by livestock, the water is filled with pathogens that cause waterborne illness. Having no other choice, the families drink the water and are plagued with a vicious cycle of sickness.
Blanca Infante (pictured above with her donkey) is a mother of eight living in Ecuador. She would make the trek each day with her donkey to get water for her family. She said to us, “I know this water is contaminated, but what choice do I have?” She knew her children needed water to live, even if that water was going to make them sick. Check out the video below to see how WaterStep was able to help Blanca and others in her community.
There are millions of mothers around the globe who are still making the agonizing choice each day to give their children contaminated water. Be part of the solution. Join WaterStep Nation today and help us end the global water crisis!