I may be more naïve than the rest of us, but it wasn’t until I started getting involved in this clean water awareness campaign nicknamed BH2O+ (“Be Hope to Her”) that I actually considered what a dramatic impact water has on my life.
Think about it. How many times do you come in contact with water in a single day?
Taking water out of my daily routine, it’s staggering to think of the implications. Here’s a start:
No morning shower.
No morning coffee.
No cooking oatmeal.
No washing dishes.
No brushing my teeth.
No flushing the toilet.
No lathering soap on my hands.
And this is only in the first 30 minutes of my day! What about beyond breakfast?
No filling my Sigg bottle.
No rinsing fruit or veggies.
No watering my plants.
No washing clothes.
No water for ironing my clothes.
And still, I’ve not even made it to Noon…nor have even mentioned the numerous water-based toiletries and products that I’ve also come into contact with during that same time!
Staggering.
Living in America, I never have to think about where or how to get clean water. I literally walk into my bathroom or kitchen, turn on the faucet, dry my hands on a clean towel, and off I go…on with the rest of my life. Having access to water – and clean water at that – is so secondary that I use it without even engaging my mind in what I’m doing. Obtaining and consuming water is never a burden for me, and I am so fortunate because of this.
…or am I really?
Getting involved in BH2O+ has brought about a deep conviction in me, not only to care about the amount of water I consume and use, but to care for the people that don’t have a faucet in the next room over, piping in water that’s already been filtered, purified and fortified for their consumption.
Water is a basic necessity – no doubt. However, it’s a bit mind-opening to realize that water is just as essential for my survival as it is for the Phanice in Africa who takes ten round trips a day to a local water source to fetch enough water for her household to function and family to survive.
Women and girls in Africa dedicate hours a day to fetching water for themselves and their households, simply because their communities lack the resources or infrastructure to facilitate any other options. The fact that these hours are spent hauling water that is highly likely to be plagued with diseases harmful to their health is beyond unfortunate – it’s an injustice.
Through BH2O+, I look forward to making a tangible change in the lives of the women and girls in Kuria, Kenya. We can shorten the distance many women travel to reach the water source while providing them with a water source that’s protected and reliable. The Nuru staff in Kuria will continue to equip community leaders and members with knowledge on how to treat water, care and maintain for their water sources and ultimately prevent water-borne illnesses from plaguing their families.
Wouldn’t you say that’s a cause worth joining?
If you’re not already involved, email me today! I’d love to talk about how we – together – can bring clean water access to the developing world, one community at a time.