In some regions, women and girls bear up to 90% of the burden of the water and sanitation crisis. 

On top of cooking, cleaning, and caring for their families, many women are responsible for gathering water for their homes. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, women spend 40 billion hours per year collecting water.

Ewang John waits while his brother and mother go looking for water. During the dry season, many of the nearby dirty streams dry up, causing women and children to go on a search for water that may last up to 8 hours.

Women and children fetch 4-5 buckets (weighing 11 pounds each) of water everyday to prepare meals in the Bakossi region of Cameroon.

Villagers lose 167,000 hours (per year) fetching water for drinking, cleaning, and cooking in Ekanjoh Bajoh. You can help villagers regain these hours to benefit their economy, education, and health.