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The health of families around the world starts with safe water

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues two years later, our impact is increasing

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting Water.org, our partners and collaborators in the countries where we work, and ultimately those living without access to safe water and sanitation at home.

While our work slowed down in the early days of the pandemic, in July 2020 we started to increase impact. We changed more than 6.7 million lives in 2020, more than 4 million after the pandemic started. That's 4 million more people who can now wash their hands and protect their families from this pandemic. In 2021, we changed more than 9 million lives with safe water or sanitation. In 2022, we changed more than 8.7 million lives with safe water or sanitation, and in 2023, we changed 9.7 million lives.

We are hopeful for the impact we are making together in 2024, and we are committed to continuing our work to empower people living in poverty with access to safe water and the health and hope that flow from it.

"Together we've empowered more than 73 million people with access to safe water or sanitation and helped them build resilience to this pandemic and other diseases." Gary White CEO & Co-founder

Watch as Water.org co-founder Matt Damon explains how we can join together to change lives.

Safe water has the power to protect and save lives

Access to safe water at home directly helps families in need prepare and protect themselves from this pandemic, because they can wash their hands and don't have to leave their homes to collect water.

Now more than ever the health of our world relies on access to safe water and people like you. Together we can help prevent the spread of diseases today and support the health of families tomorrow.

Here's how you can help families around the world today

Globally, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water and 3.5 billion people don’t have access to a safe toilet. More than 1 million people die each year from diseases that could be prevented if families have access to safe water and sanitation. Now more than ever is the time to ensure everyone everywhere has access to safe water and a toilet.

The most powerful thing you can do right now to help build resilience and hope for families and our world is to give the gift of safe water.

You can help save lives.

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A Message from CEO Gary White

The reason Water.org exists, and why I dedicate my life to this work, is because water touches everything. This pandemic is no exception. The front-line defense is handwashing, made possible by safe water.

During this global pandemic, my thoughts turn to the 73 million people who now have access to safe water and sanitation because of your support. Because of you, they have greater resilience to this pandemic and other diseases. They are now better prepared to safeguard their families.

Now more than ever, access to safe water and sanitation is critical to the health and resilience of our global community. It is vital to prevent the spread of disease today and to support the health of families tomorrow.

Thank you for continuing to donate to Water.org as we work to empower millions more in need with safe water and sanitation. With your donation, we can continue helping those living in poverty build resilience that allows health, hope and a bright future.

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Gary White, CEO & Co-founder, Water.org

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73 million lives changed across 4 continents
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Driving impact during the COVID-19 pandemic

Water.org is continuing to evolve how we work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so together with our partners, we can continue to change more lives with safe water and sanitation and build solutions needed for a resilient, sustainable tomorrow. We are:

  1. Promoting health and supporting resilience among those living in poverty through hygiene and behavior change messages, as well as advocating for improved public access and investment in water, sanitation, and handwashing facilities.
  2. Supporting our partners so that they will be able to continue offering critical water and sanitation loans to people in need.
  3. Advocating for stronger linkages between WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) and health to ensure governments focus resources on these vital, life-saving interventions.

Water gives health

In mid-2020, women here in Balarampur village in India stand in pre-marked circles, six feet apart, waiting to fill their vessels with water. A lack of access to safe water at home is now more life threatening than ever. Risking exposure to COVID-19, women leave their homes and walk to these kiosks each day to get the water their families need to survive.

Because of your continued support, two of these women now have access to safe water at home – empowering them to safeguard their families from COVID-19 and other health issues. They join the other 28 million people we have reached in India who now have access to safe water, sanitation, and the health and resilience they bring.

Together we can give more people in need the opportunity for improved health. And it starts with access to safe water.

Read more stories of health and hope
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Finding hope — Time 100 Talks

This pandemic has made it clear how critical safe water is to ensure global health — not just for those in need, but for all of us.

Watch as Water.org co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White explain how water is a front-line defense against COVID-19 and critical to the health of our human family during their Time 100 Talks interview with CNN political commentator Van Jones.

World Leaders Call-to-action on COVID-19

Now more than ever access to safe water and sanitation is critical to the health and resilience of our global community. That’s why Water.org is joining Heads of State, Government, and leaders from United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, civil society, private sector and research and learning, in calling leaders around the world to prioritize water, sanitation and hygiene in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full statement
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Help us change more lives with access to safe water and improved health.

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