While global literacy rates have risen over the past few decades, recent reports show that at least one out of every seven people over the age of 15 still lacked basic literacy skills. Meanwhile, a recent UN report on global education revealed that almost six out of ten children in low to middle-income countries could not read a simple story by age ten in 2019.  As more than 250 million children are out of school, millions of young people across the world may lose opportunities to empower themselves in the future. 

For children in developing countries, safe water is a common roadblock to completing one’s education. Nearly one in three schools still lack basic drinking water services, while 28 percent of schools still lack basic sanitation. Students at these schools may have to bring their own water every day. If the school is in a community without a nearby water source, the task of collecting water may take hours out of the day that should be left for study or play. In addition, the lack of sanitation services at schools may put children’s health at risk, causing sickness to spread rapidly. The risk of disease may cause students to miss school and prevent them from making the most of their education.

Safe water access is vital for a good education, which is one of the reasons why H2O4ALL frequently targets schools in our client communities. For many young people growing up in poverty, succeeding in school may be the first step toward breaking the cycle of poverty in their families and creating a better future for their community. By placing water systems in schools, we can provide safe water to the community and ensure that children have a safe, supportive place to grow.