Let’s talk about water. It is a basic necessity central to human existence and it may seem inconceivable to imagine living without it. But the UN reports that 783 million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation. What?
Since 1993 there has been international observance on March 22 as World Water Day – a day devoted to honoring the world water crisis by encouraging the general public to not use their taps throughout the whole day. Sound hard? It is. And that’s the point.
After recently traveling to Gulu, Uganda, I came to appreciate just how accessible water is in the U.S. Yes, they have water in Gulu. But I wouldn’t say it’s as free-flowing, clean, and readily available in an array of temperatures as it is in my house in San Diego. Standing on the road in Gulu I fought the physical urge to do a cartwheel and applaud Invisible Children’s WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) program, which I have not given warranted attention to in the past.
Since the inception of the program in 2010, IC has partnered with International Lifeline Fund and charity: water to drill 20 boreholes in rural communities in northern Uganda, providing safe drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene to the families living there. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough. After seeing dozens & dozens (& dozens) of people in Gulu traveling with their jerrycans to the local boreholes to pump water, it was undeniably clear to me that water is a luxury I take for granted.
So join me today in honoring the wonderment of clean, fresh water. The sparkling, refreshing, imperative, life-functioning gift of H20. And then join me in doing cartwheels for WASH.
The below infographic is as colorful as it is informative. Click on it to view it in its larger glory.
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