On this side of the globe access to clean and safe water rarely crosses our minds but for the Global South – water is more precious than ever.

Globally, 2 billion people (that’s over 1 quarter of the world’s population) do not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion (46%) lack access to safely managed sanitation according to a report published by UNESCO in 2023.

Although in Ireland and elsewhere in the Northern hemisphere the world’s water crisis might not appear important, indifference or wilful ignorance will have catastrophic impacts on one of our most crucial resources.

Understanding that water is finite and needs protecting is key to our survival.

As a global community, if we fail to collaborate and work together to combat climate change the global south, often the poorest countries, will continue to experience hardships in ongoing humanitarian and climate crisis.

Heatwaves putting an entire region into standstill is a reality for many and marginalised communities find themselves forced to drink unsafe water placing children especially at great risk.

“Protecting and preserving this precious resource for future generations depends on partnerships. The smart management and conservation of the world’s water resources means bringing together governments, businesses, scientists, civil society and communities – including indigenous communities – to design and deliver concrete solutions”

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

Rural communities in places like, Malawi – experience the harsh realities of water scarcity.

Thipa village in Kasungu district is one such place, where lack of water is having domino effects on the lives of Malawian people, especially women and children.

In Kasungu, the intensity of droughts and dry spells is putting water resources at risk and communities are forced to rely on getting water from the polluted Chitete river – Polluted through no fault of their own.

The need for boreholes and new water access points is great. Not only are school children sick from river waters, but long distances to wells also has its own challenges forcing students to prioritise thirst over their education.

For girls, the lack of access to safe water jeopardises their hygiene and safety too.

But it doesn’t have to be this way

Margaret is a grandmother from Thipa village and has experienced the hardships of water scarcity for a long time.

Partnered with the Jesuit Centre for Ecology & Development (JCED), projects aimed at locating and developing new water points for communities like Margaret’s is transformative!

As well as improving the health and vitality of communities, access to water is making neighbourhoods come alive!

“We rarely do vegetable gardens because of water”  Margaret explains. “Various organizations come to teach us how to grow backyard gardens; we build fences, but the water is far away …  At my age, can I fetch water from a distance and pour it into the garden? But when the water is near, we make gardens and grow different crops. Our kids and grandkids will grow healthy”

As well as giving people access to safe drinking water, water access makes way for irrigation, diversifying crops and lasting development for communities often isolated and forgotten.

Thanks to support like yours, communities and people like Margaret, aren’t left behind and can see their loved one’s grow and develop.

For World Water Day, you can do something amazing and give the gift of water today