The Need for Water Projects in Africa
With one in three people of Africa’s population facing water scarcity, the need for water projects in Africa is vast.1 Even when people in Africa have access to water, it is often from unprotected water sources that frequently carry various diseases. As much as two-thirds of people in sub-Saharan Africa rely on such water sources.2 In some areas, such as sub-Saharan Africa, “40 percent of the population lacks safe drinking water,” according to National Geographic.3 The contaminated water these men, women and children are forced to drink contributes to approximately 115 deaths every hour.4
In developing countries, the surface water people commonly rely on frequently contains fecal matter, arsenic or other pollutants.5 A significant portion of this contamination results from open defecation. A research article published at BMC Public Health estimates 215 million people in sub-Saharan Africa practice open defecation, which “facilitates the transmission of diarrheal diseases—one of the leading causes of mortality in children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa.”6
Drinking unsafe water can lead to various diseases, including typhoid, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea. According to the World Water Council, “Water-related diseases are the most common cause of illness and death among the poor of developing countries.”7 Every year, tens of millions of people become seriously ill from such diseases.8
To compound these issues, many impoverished people in such countries also lack access to medical care. If these individuals do become sick, they often don’t receive the medical care they need, which can lead to them dying from preventable, treatable diseases. According to the UN, “Each day nearly 1,000 children die due to preventable water- and sanitation-related diarrheal diseases.”9
With higher metabolisms and bodies containing proportionately more water than adults, children are disproportionately affected by unclean water and waterborne diseases.10 For example, they are more susceptible to diarrhea, which depletes the body’s fluids. As a result, diarrhea claims the lives of approximately 1.5 million children every year in developing areas such as Africa.11 Frequent sickness also affects children’s ability to attend school and gain a proper education, which impairs their future chances for success.
Another area affected by water scarcity is that of one’s livelihood. According to Brookings Institution, “Africa faces some of the highest water risk in the world.”12 This is partially because of the population’s dependence on agriculture. In sub-Saharan Africa, as much as 90 percent of the rural population relies in some way on agriculture for their primary source of income.13 Yet, 66 percent of the same population live in areas with little to no rainfall.14 This water scarcity affects agriculture workers’ ability to grow crops and provide for their families.
There is also valuable time spent collecting water that could be spent generating income. In areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, many people must walk 30 minutes or more to collect water for their daily needs.15 This task typically falls to women and girls. Collectively, they spend an estimated 40 billion hours per year collecting water.16
Sickness and poor health, caused by unclean water, also diminishes a family’s income. Impoverished people in developing countries are often daily wage laborers, with no paid time off work. When adults are sick, they are unable to earn an income.
These are just a few ways the lack of access to clean water dramatically impacts people’s lives. Fortunately, there are various water projects in Rwanda and Africa making a difference in these people’s lives. These organizations include The Water Project, Water for Africa, Lifewater and GFA World, which provide access to clean water in Rwanda and throughout Africa.
GFA World has been impacting lives since 1979 through various community development initiatives, including clean water projects. Jesus Wells freely provide clean water for entire communities, approximately 300 people. BioSand water filters purify contaminated water, making it safe to drink. Both of these initiatives protect men, women and children from waterborne diseases and significantly improve their health and their lives.
Vimal lived in an agrarian village in Asia that suffered drought four months of every year.17 People fought over the little water they had, vying for their very livelihoods and survival. Then GFA missionaries installed a Jesus Well, an answer to prayer. Now the village has access to clean water year-round.
Ragnar’s village faced a similar struggle to obtain water crucial to their survival.18 The nearest water source was half a mile away and contaminated. His four children were among the many who suffered from drinking unclean water. They constantly battled sickness, and struggled in school as a result.
Then Ragnar encountered a GFA missionary, who learned of the need and requested a Jesus Well be installed in Ragnar’s village. Now the entire community has free access to clean drinking water—within easy walking distance—and their health has greatly improved.
While GFA World began its efforts in various parts of Asia, the ministry has recently expanded into Africa, starting in the country of Rwanda. GFA World hopes to begin water projects in Africa in the near future. Here’s how to donate a water well in Africa.
1 Holtz, Leo and Christina Golubski. “Addressing Africa’s extreme water insecurity.” Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/07/23/addressing-africas-extreme-water-insecurity/. July 23, 2021.
2 Rodriguez, Leah. “4 Factors Driving the Water & Sanitation Crisis in Africa.” Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/water-and-sanitation-crisis-sub-saharan-africa/. October 7, 2019.
3 “Water Inequality.” National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/water-inequality/. Accessed August 12, 2021.
4 Rodriguez, Leah. “4 Factors Driving the Water & Sanitation Crisis in Africa.” Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/water-and-sanitation-crisis-sub-saharan-africa/. October 7, 2019.
5 Luby, Stephen. “Water Quality in South Asia.” Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2740663/. June 2008.
6 Galan, Deise; Kim, Seung-Sup; Graham, Jay P. “Exploring changes in open defecation prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa based on national level indices.” https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-527. May 30, 2013.
7 Water Supply & Sanitation.” World Water Council. https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/en/water-supply-sanitation. Accessed August 11, 2021.
8 “Safe Drinking Water is Essential.” Koshland Science Museum. https://www.koshland-science-museum.org/water/new/en/Overview/Why-is-Safe-Water-Essential.html. Accessed October 7, 2021.
9 “Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.” United Nations. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/. Accessed October 7, 2021.
10 Holt, Palmer. “Dying of Thirst: The Global Water Crisis.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/dying-of-thirst-global-water-crisis/#original . March 1, 2019.
11 Holt, Palmer. “Dying of Thirst: The Global Water Crisis.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/dying-of-thirst-global-water-crisis/#original . March 1, 2019.
12 Holtz, Leo and Christina Golubski. “Addressing Africa’s extreme water insecurity.” Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/07/23/addressing-africas-extreme-water-insecurity/. July 23, 2021.
13 Holtz, Leo and Christina Golubski. “Addressing Africa’s extreme water insecurity.” Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/07/23/addressing-africas-extreme-water-insecurity/. July 23, 2021.
14 Rodriguez, Leah. “4 Factors Driving the Water & Sanitation Crisis in Africa.” Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/water-and-sanitation-crisis-sub-saharan-africa/. October 7, 2019.
15 “Water Inequality.” National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/water-inequality/. Accessed August 12, 2021.
16 Odonkor, Alexander Ayertey. “Water crisis in Africa: Scarcity amidst abundance.” CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-10-19/Water-crisis-in-Africa-Scarcity-amidst-abundance-UGMXwgwhkA/index.html. October 19, 2020.
17 “Jesus Well Relieves Water Crisis.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/news/articles/gfa-world-jesus-well-relieves-water-crisis/. March 2019.
18 “A Family’s Fight Against Contaminated Water.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/news/articles/a-familys-fight-against-contaminated-water-wfr21-03/. February 2021.