Imagine waking up one day and finding out there is no clean water.  What would you do? Where would you go?

These are the questions the people of Niger struggle with every day. Although they have clean water 300 feet under the ground, they cannot access it. Therefore, each day, the men, women and children of Niger are faced with the prospect of using infested water to drink, cook and clean.

The women and girls wake up at dawn and walk more than 7 miles a day just to bring back grimy water that could kill them. They have the back-breaking task of pulling up this dirty water 2-3 times a day, and carrying it back to their village.

Yet, despite their hard work, with that water they do more harm than good. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of people in rural Niger drink contaminated water; 1 out of 7 children don’t make it to their 5th Birthday, and die from diarrhea and dehydration; 40% suffer from trachoma (infectious disease, which roughens the inner surface of the eyelids, causing blindness); and many have foot-long guinea worms running throughout their bodies from the contaminated water.

Significantly, because the girls are fated to be “water carriers,” they cannot go to school and be educated.  Eighty-five percent (85%) of women in Niger are illiterate, and the girls dream of being able to go to school.

Now imagine you and I have the power to make that all go away. By raising $5,600, World Vision will not only match dollar for dollar to drill a well to bring fresh water and save a village, but also, help with sanitation (hygiene/latrines), building schools, and assisting women to start entrepreneurial ventures to support their families.

Please join me in helping these members of our world community to gain access to something we use every day. Let’s work together to transform lives.

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