Do you know that one (1) in four (4) people on our planet lacks reliable access to safely managed drinking water? And, even though it’s 2023 and we have achieved amazing advancements, waterborne illnesses continue to be a leading cause of death, with an estimated 829,000 people dying each year from water-related diarrheal illnesses.
Life in rural communities revolves around water. While health is often cited as the primary justification for safe water and sanitation, it is by no means the only reason for investing in, and ensuring access to, these essential services.
In addition to supporting human health, water is critical for a wide variety of domestic, agricultural, and commercial purposes. Families use water for irrigation, raising farm animals, processing food, and conducting commercial activities that support their livelihoods. At the same time, poor management of waste (human and environmental) degrades groundwater quality, directly affecting community health and wellbeing. The misuse of water sources and the contamination of the environment causes widespread transmission of diseases and economic hardship.
Reliable access to safely managed water and sanitation, combined with healthy hygiene practices and resources, empowers children, families and entire communities with the lasting foundation for improved health, renewed hope, and the opportunity for lasting prosperity.
PWW is committed to tackling the global water crisis by working with underserved communities in Haiti and Honduras to establish comprehensive and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene education (WASH) programs in homes, schools, health clinics, and the greater communities. PWW also provides WASH training and consulting services across Central America, helping organizations, businesses, governmental entities and other groups to establish robust WASH programs and practices in their respective communities.
In October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent call-to-action to accelerate progress toward ensuring safe drinking water for all. In alignment with the WHO’s call-to-action, this year’s World Water Day theme is “Accelerate Change”.
Dysfunction throughout the water cycle is undermining progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, disasters to peace.
Back in 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda – the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030.
Right now, we are seriously off-track. Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation have not yet been fulfilled.
We need to accelerate change – to go beyond ‘business as usual.’ (read more)
World Water Day 2023: PWW’s 3rd Annual Health, Hope & Opportunity Virtual Auction
To help raise awareness and provide education about the global water crisis, PWW hosts annual events in Haiti, Honduras and the United States in celebration of World Water Day, March 22nd (see WWD 2022 story).
Started in 1993, this internationally recognized day is focused on increasing awareness about the 2+ billion people currently living without access to our most basic human necessity.
This year, the PWW team in the US will be celebrating World Water Day with our 3rd annual Health, Hope & Opportunity virtual auction. The auction will go live on Monday, March 20th at 9am EST and run through Wednesday, March 22nd, World Water Day, at 9pm EST.
We hope you’ll join in on this fabulous opportunity to bid, shop, and share the life-changing and very precious gift of safe water with children and families in Haiti and Honduras.
What actions can you take at home, school and/or work to to conserve water?
Check out the UN’s “Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World” page. Which level will you strive to achieve?
In 2009, Carolyn Crowley Meub (PWW’s Executive Director, Emeritus) shared the following statement that continues to ring true today…
“How can a nation grow and develop its economy, educate its children, employ its adults and govern itself responsibly and democratically when its people don’t even have a chance to have the most basic of needs?
Imagine trying to effectively run an educational system where two thirds of the children are chronically ill and thus frequently absent.
Imagine trying to run a profitable business where two thirds of the employees and customers are chronically ill.
Imagine trying to effectively govern and lead a people who are chronically ill.
It simply cannot be done.”
Let’s work together to accelerate change!