Where water flows, life follows - It’s time to change a nation with WaterAid.

Thank you very much for visiting my blog! I’m Hannah and I am very grateful that you are showing an interest in a cause that is very close to my heart. I have always felt very strongly about the poverty in less developed countries that is related to water- or lack of it. I want people all over the world to realise that EVERYONE should have access to clean, safe drinking water and sanitation, and that by doing their bit, they can help to make a change. By the end of my blog, I hope that you will know more about this issue, understand why something needs to be done, and feel that you want to help.

For over 2 million people around the globe, finding new sources of clean water is a struggle. This is the case for 11 year old Amina. Amina lives in a small village called Kuluunda in Malawi, Africa. She has three younger sisters and a new baby brother, but being the eldest daughter in the family means that Amina’s life is hard. She has to wake up early every morning and walk for hours to collect the dirty water that she and her family are forced to drink. This water is crawling with diseases such as cholera, typhoid and fluorosis. Every time they take a sip, they are at risk of being killed, but they have only one choice; Drink dirty water or die of thirst. What kind of a choice is that? No child should have to live like this- no child should be deprived of the one thing needed to survive, should they?
 

Luckily for Amina, her village now has access to a fresh water pump, and she no longer has to walk for miles every morning. There have also been new toilets put in place, and now Amina can enjoy being young and happy, safe in the knowledge that she will live another day. Now Amina smiles, and her family smile with her.

But this is only one village out of thousands that need your support. It is only because of the charity WaterAid that they can now access clean water and have suitable sanitation. Working in over 15 countries worldwide, this charity strives to improve the lives of poor people everywhere. WaterAid ask for only £2 a month to provide these poverty stricken areas with fresh water pumps, and save children like Amina. But without your support, these children will continue to live in despair and ill health. Without you, WaterAid cannot keep setting up life saving projects and changing lives for the better. If you want to find out more about the charity and the wonderful work that it does, you can visit them at http://www.wateraid.org/uk/

Thank you again for reading my blog- I am so grateful that you have taken the time to read it. I would really appreciate it if you could now post a comment in response to the following questions- more information can be found on all the ideas below at the website mentioned above!

• Had you heard about the water problems in African and Indian countries before?
• Do you now know about these water problems and how severe they are?
• Would you now be prepared to any of the following things to help improve the lives of people who are affected by these water issues…….

1. Make a donation of £2 to WaterAid?
2. Visit their "Shop for Life” and purchase one of the lifesaving items?
3. When buying on eBay, donating some of the money to WaterAid, and when selling, donating some of the income to WaterAid?
4. Purchasing some high street items through the WaterAid partnerships (These include H&M) to provide money for struggling communities?
5. Or, participating in one of the WaterAid events- these include anything from music and festivals, to trekking, running and sing for water- there’s bound to be one for you!

If you do choose to respond to these questions, please can you tell me where you come from (If not the UK) - So your home town and country.

Thanks once again!
Hannah.