Bringing clean drinking water to communities in Africa

Water is vital for people and for our planet. Without it, life is impossible. Yet this precious resource is becoming ever scarcer and ever less safe. Poor management of water resources is partly to blame, but so is climate change, with its devastating consequences. Natural disasters such as storms, cyclones and floods are becoming more and more frequent. They damage water quality and put people's access to safe drinking water at risk.

According to the UN, by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living with absolute water scarcity.

For many people living in poverty around the world, getting safe drinking water is a daily struggle. That is why bringing a water supply to their communities is essential to their survival.

Why water supply projects matter so much in Africa

Africa is especially hard hit by the lack of access to water. In the continent's most remote corners, safe drinking water is far more than a necessity: it is a matter of survival. Every drop counts.

According to UNICEF, in 2022, 418 million people still had no access to a drinking water service. And only 1 in 4 Africans has access to a safe source of drinking water.

Even for those who can reach a water source, the price is often heavy: endless hours of walking, kilometre after kilometre, to get there. The water they draw is often contaminated, and the consequences can be tragic. Every year, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, waterborne diseases caused by dirty water kill more than 180,000 children under the age of 5.

But there is hope. Water supply projects are taking root, backed by organisations like ours that understand how urgent the fight for safe drinking water in Africa is.

Our work to bring clean drinking water

To make this fundamental right a reality for everyone, we carry out drinking water supply projects in Africa. They give families a water point close to home, along with a reliable source of good-quality drinking water.

A management committee made up of community members is responsible for protecting and maintaining each water point. We raise awareness of sustainable practices among local people and carry out follow-up visits to make sure the well keeps working and the water stays clean. This way, we can guarantee villagers a lasting, good-quality water supply.

Les populations profitent ainsi de meilleures conditions de vie, comme en témoigne Estelle, 10 ans. Elle vit avec sa famille à Anden Tenga, un village situé à près de 160 km de Ouagadougou, la capitale du Burkina Faso. Depuis l'installation d'un château d'eau dans son village, son quotidien a changé. " Avant, nous devions aller très loin pour avoir de l'eau. Nous y allions généralement la nuit, car le soir il y a trop de monde, et des bagarres éclatent. Grâce au château d'eau dans mon village, je ne suis obligée d'y aller si tard. Je peux donc aller plus tôt à l'école " se réjouit la jeune écolière de CM1.

For these communities, access to safe drinking water is a symbol of hope. These water supply systems transform their daily lives and open the door to a better future. Now, young and old alike can spend their time on something other than the daily search for water. Clean drinking water means progress and life, as well as education and work.

Together, we can make a difference by bringing a source of life to those who need it. Join us!