Water

Globally, 2.2 billion people lack
access to safe drinking water.

A major leading cause of death in children under five years old is diarrhea, which is often a result of poor sanitation and dirty water.

Water is the most immediate vital necessity for life. Over the past two decades, SOS has encountered devastating situations in which communities either had insufficient water—or their water sources were making people sick and killing their children. These realities still exist today.

Asha’s Story

Asha* is 8 years old. She lives in a community that doesn’t have access to safe water. At 4:00 a.m., Asha joins her mother on a long trek to a contaminated river to collect the day’s supply of water. Asha makes this journey three times a day. Because of the burden of her responsibilities, Asha cannot go to school.

Jarab’s Story

4-year-old Jarab* lives in a community where water is drawn from a well with a shallow hand pump. This well isn’t deep enough to reach clean water. Everyone in Jarab’s community knows the water is dirty. But it’s the only source of water they have. Jarab’s family must daily choose between the quick death of dehydration or the slow death of contamination. Most children in Jarab’s community do not make it past the age of 5.

Why We Care About Water

Safe drinking water isn’t a commodity but a necessary building block for securing the future of an at-risk child. 

A child who does not have safe access to clean water is a more vulnerable target for trafficking.

Until clean water is secure in the world of an at-risk child, nothing else is secure.

How We Provide Water

SOS creates custom water solutions for communities. 

When it comes to water, one size does not fit all. That’s why we respond with custom solutions that meet the needs of each community we work in. 

These solutions include drilling new wells, refurbishing existing wells, installing water filtration units, providing emergency water tankers and more.

You Can Make a Difference

Your gift helps to create healthier communities by meeting the needs of at-risk children.

*Names changed to protect minors.