Crisis on Earth
Photo credit to Water.org.
The Earth is experiencing a crisis that many are unaware of. There are more than 844 million people in the world who lack access to safe water, and 2.3 billion who lack access to clean sanitation. Over 1 million people die every year from diseases related to using unsanitary water. Every 2 minutes a child dies due to preventable water related disease. That's 1 in 9 people without access to clean drinking water, and 1 in 3 without access to access to toilets. Water.org's mission is to provide safe, easy access to clean water for impoverished communities around the world.
Women and children face significant hurdles from the world's water crisis, as they are often responsible for making the sometimes hours long journeys to collect water. Taking away time from their day, interfering with work, school, and familial responsibilities, creating a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape from. With access to safe water, these women and children can reinvest that time and energy into their lives for the betterment of themselves and their families. It's estimated that the world loses out on 260 billion dollars every year in economic opportunities due to productivity lost from the water crisis. Productivity that could be reinvested into their own communities.
Water.org Breaks Down Barriers
For 25 years, Water.org has focused on breaking down the financial barriers that restrict the availability of clean water to these communities. Founded by Gary White, and Matt Damon, thanks to Water.org's efforts, more than 21 million people now have reliable, clean water at their disposal thanks to small loans made available to these communities through Water.org's affordable WaterCredit financing.
Photo credit to Water.org.