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Growing up in India, I used to see street fights for a bucket of potable water. Even at a young age, I had understood that we were the privileged few that had ready access to clean water for our daily needs. Of course there were days and months where we had to store it because public water supply was restricted to few hours a day.
But, I’m not talking about something that happened 30 or 40 years ago. Many places like Malawi in Africa, and Flint, Michigan in America still lack access to clean water even in 2021.
According to World Vision, a global humanitarian organization, 844 million people lack basic drinking water access, more than 1 of every 10 people on the planet. Women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours hauling water every day. The average woman in rural Africa walks 6 kilometers every day to haul 40 pounds of water.
Ireen Samuel, 8, goes with her mother, Happiness (who is carrying 1-month baby Secret), to do laundry at the stream where they collect water. They negotiate steep terrain to get there. Ireen insists on carrying the heavy laundry bucket and wash for the beginning of the walk, but then her mother takes it back when she is too tired. On the return trip, Happiness is clearly exhausted as she carries a heavy bucket of water and the wet laundry, plus one-month-old Secret on her back. Ireen lives in Central Malawi in the village of Mgololo Kumusi. Her family is part of World Vision Malawi’s Nkhoma AP, funded by WVUS. World Vision started operations in Nkhoma in 2006. The AP, serving 20,000 people with programs in water, health and nutrition, literacy, economic empowerment, and sponsorship will close in 2026. Ireen and her friends walk for water two or three times a day, for a total of about 6K. The walk is challenging, with drops of 300 feet from the hills to the stream bed. The girls walk quickly, traveling barefoot up and down, carrying 10 litre buckets – buckets that can hold up to 10 kgs (22 pounds) of water. When they return home, buckets sloshing with water on their heads, they stop to rest, drinking from the water they just collected. When it gets too steep, the girls tread through furrowed fields, choosing their steps carefully. They are cautious. They don’t want to fall. They know that if they fall, they might break the buckets and there is no money for replacements. Ireen started collecting water for the family last year when she was only 7.
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Photo ©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren: IMAGE: Irene and her mom, Beautiful in Malawi
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About The Article Author:
Hi, I’m Rachana. Its been my dream for years to do something to consciously create a better future where every one of us is excited about our own potential. My challenge to everyone is that they aspire for their personal best and leave a legacy of their work through their contributions to mankind.
One more thing. In December of 2044, I hope to win the Nobel.
Will you join me on this journey of growth and transformation?
Namasté.
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