How long would you wait for clean water? 

The easy answer is no one should have to wait for water. We rely on clean water for all of life’s functions—to quench our thirst, grow our food, stay healthy and prevent disease. Clean water is a fundamental right.

Yet, for one village chieftain in the Philippines, her answer came 50 years later. 

Judith, the chieftain of Siayan, recalls the enduring wait for clean water, especially as a young student. 
  
“For the longest time, we have been hoping for a safe way to access clean water. I am 50-years old now so that’s how long I have been waiting.”  
  
Judith’s municipality of Siayan was once the poorest in the country, with a staggering poverty incidence of almost 100 percent.   
  
The community lacked regular access to clean water, let alone enough water to flush the school toilet. For decades, students like Jory (pictured above) would trek for 30 minutes through the forest to the natural spring. Navigating through tangled brush and overgrown paths, he embarked on his daily task, retrieving a gallon of water before class.  
 
But the walk for water was “not always enough,” says the school’s principal, Diole Insag. The lack of running water in the school “forces a lot of our students to defecate and/or urinate anywhere. Girls tend to hold their urine. Either of these two is not healthy for them.”  
  
Despite these dire circumstances, the community of Siayan has consistently made progress towards ending poverty. In 2016, the poverty incidence dropped down to 77 percent—an encouraging sign that a better future was ahead.   
 
So, what changed?

No longer a pipe dream  

The local government, school officials and community members collaborated with World Vision to address the water supply issues at the school. We helped purchase and install water pipes from the spring to the school and added a hand pump for backup during power outages.  
 
“Lack of access to clean water, whether in school or at home, exposes a child to an unclean environment,” explains Manuel Lim, World Vision’s Program Manager. “He or she cannot practice proper hygiene. It also puts children at risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea.” Thanks to the community rallying together, Jory and his classmates can now focus on learning.   
 
Today, chieftain Judith smiles as she admires the school’s new water facilities.  
  
“I am grateful that the younger generation won’t have to endure for as long as we did,” she says.  
 
As for Jory and his friends? They’re now too busy playing together instead of fetching water from the spring during recess.   

Water everywhere  

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved this past year. Thanks to our supporters and local partners, we reached over 1 million people through 70 water, sanitation and hygiene programs, known as WASH.  
  
Here’s a breakdown of our impact. In 2023, we helped: 

• 5,296 people gain access to clean drinking water  
• Distribute 242,795 WASH products, such as hygiene kits and water filters to help families stay healthy  
• Distribute 9,615 reusable menstrual hygiene kits to adolescent girls and women  

Together, we can make water disparity a thing of the past. Check out how a monthly gift of $35 can help a community gain regular access to clean water and lift them out of poverty.