The global water crisis impacts billions, preventing children and families from accessing the safe water they need to thrive.
World Water Day drives awareness and action, uniting individuals, communities, organizations and ministries in the fight against water scarcity.
Compassion fights the global water crisis through initiatives like well building and through partnerships with organizations providing sustainable water solutions.
What Is World Water Day?
World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22. Established by the United Nations, World Water Day aims to build awareness of the global water crisis and inspire action to stop it.
Why Does World Water Day Matter?
Safe water is crucial to survival, and everyone deserves access to it. However, it takes all of us working together to make that a reality.
World Water Day highlights the issue of water scarcity, building awareness of this life-threatening challenge that impacts billions. And as awareness of water scarcity builds, so does a desire to do something about it.
This is why World Water Day matters. Awareness rallies people, communities, organizations and ministries around a common cause, resulting in real change. And that change can mean the difference between scarcity and security for billions of people around the world.
Understanding the Global Water Crisis
The “global water crisis” refers to a lack of sufficient safe water that affects communities around the world. There are several causes of the crisis, including:
Population growth, which increases demand.
Pollution due to untreated sewage and trash.
Climate change that worsens droughts or causes severe flooding that contaminates water sources.
Infrastructure limitations like a lack of indoor plumbing or treatment plants.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people — over 2 billion — don’t have access to safe drinking water.
Out of that number, around 106 million have no choice but to get water from unsafe sources like rivers, lakes and ponds, risking their health and well-being.
The Impact of the Global Water Crisis
The impact of the global water crisis is far-reaching. For example, unsafe water is often deadly. Recent data estimates that one million people die each year from diarrhea linked to unsafe drinking water.
Beyond the immediate health dangers, the crisis also reshapes daily life. Some families may be forced to travel long distances multiple times a day just to find safe water to drink. This prevents parents from working and sometimes even keeps children out of school, limiting their potential.
The water crisis also impacts entire communities, preventing them from growing crops or raising livestock. This can lead to food insecurity and even famine, putting lives at risk.
How Unsafe Water Impacts Children
Children are the most at risk when it comes to the water crisis. Their bodies are still developing, and water is critical for growth.
Without water, children may suffer from life-threatening malnutrition and developmental delays. Children are also more susceptible to disease as their immune systems are developing too.
Sadly, a lack of safe water is a leading cause of death for children under five, resulting in more than 1,300 deaths every day due to diseases like cholera and dysentery. Children who drink unsafe water are also at a higher risk of malnutrition, threatening their growth.
Impacts go beyond physical health. Some children may be forced to fetch water for their families each day, keeping them out of school and preventing them from learning. Traveling for water can also expose children to violence and exploitation.
These impacts are often worse for children living in poverty. For example, if a child must fetch water instead of going to school, they can’t learn the skills they need to grow into self-sufficient adults, trapping them in poverty.
How Compassion Fights Back Against the Global Water Crisis
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” — Matthew 10:42, NIV
Every child deserves safe water. And at Compassion, we’re doing our part to ensure children around the world can get it. How?
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) initiatives: Through our WaSH initiatives, Compassion helps local churches build infrastructure like wells, rainwater harvesting systems and filtration systems, delivering safe water to families in their communities. We also train children and families on safe hygiene, water and sanitation practices, protecting them from harm.
Partnerships with water-focused organizations: We can’t deliver safe water to every child in need alone. So we partner with organizations like Water Mission to build sustainable water solutions around the world.
Join the Fight Against Water Scarcity
On World Water Day (or any day), you can deliver hope to children living without safe water. All it takes is one simple step. Here are three you can take today:
Pray: Prayer changes things. When we lift up children to God, their Provider, we can trust that he hears us. He is faithful to move on their behalf. Join us in prayer for children in need by becoming a Compassion prayer partner.
Donate: You can donate safe water to a child in need through Compassion. Your donation will help build essential water infrastructure like wells, install facilities like toilets and even train children on how to care for their bodies, protecting them from disease.
Sponsor: Children need consistent care as they grow. They need safe water, nutritious meals, medical care, safe places to play and the hope of the gospel. All of this and more is exactly what you’ll provide as a child sponsor. Your monthly donation empowers a local church to care for a child’s right-now needs, introduce them to Jesus and prepare them for a brighter future.
Children around the world go without water not just on World Water Day but every day. You can change that. Join us as we reach them with safe water and the hope of the gospel.
