Earlier this month, we discussed the forms of gender-based violence that often go hand-in-hand with severe water stress. Since women and girls shoulder the burden of collecting water, they frequently face harassment and assault while collecting water for their families. When water stress becomes severe, these women may be at a greater risk for domestic violence as they face blame for something beyond their control. Worse, young women often miss their chance for education due to water stress, limiting their choices in the future – which can leave them with few options to remove themselves or their children from a domestic situation that turns dangerous. 

On the other hand, when a community receives safe water access, women can empower themselves inside and outside their families. Not only does the presence of a safe water source in the community free women from the responsibility of collecting water, it allows women to take the lead in ensuring their community’s continued safe water access.

In our mission to promote safe water access around the world, H2O4ALL has always been committed to creating sustainability through community involvement. After completing each project in a new community, we empower community members to keep their new water project by educating community members on water safety and sanitation, providing maintenance training, and forming water committees. These water committees maintain water systems and access points, ensure that water is distributed fairly throughout the community, and ensure that the community will continue to have safe water access.

Since women tend to shoulder the responsibility of collecting water for their families, it may come as no surprise that many women have stepped up to become leaders in their communities’ water committees. By taking an active role in maintaining their community’s water resources, these women help ensure that their communities continue to benefit from safe water and that their children will have safe water. Whereas the responsibility of collecting water was a burden on women, H2O4ALL’s safe water systems have given them the opportunity to empower themselves and make positive, lasting change in their communities.

Water Day 2024 marks the beginning of our Move 4 Water campaign. H2O4ALL supporters across Canada are helping to change the world by mobilizing their communities to raise funds for safe water initiatives. To learn more about the Move 4 Water campaign, click here.