World Water Crisis
785 million people around the world lack access to clean water. That’s an astounding number. 1 in every 9 people lack access to this basic necessity. My eyes were opened to this reality during my first international mission trip to Guatemala back in 2016. This was my first experience only drinking bottled water, filtering the water before brushing my teeth, and being very careful not to accidentally drink the water while taking a shower. And here’s the thing – I was still extremely lucky. Despite the need to constantly be aware of which water I was drinking, I had safe water to drink. I never fell ill on that trip. I never had to walk for miles to collect my water for the day. It wasn’t warm, but I had running water to be able to take a shower and flush a toilet. This is far from the experience of millions around the world, and this experience directly led to my work with Set Free Alliance to solve the world water crisis. Because the global experience more closely resembles the family I met during my first trip to Sierra Leone:
Her warm brown eyes looked into mine as she moved down the path. Hand holding her daughter’s. A blue lapa securing her toddler son to her back, she made her way to the well. Camera lens pointed and ready, I followed. I was shocked by what I saw. This wasn’t what I considered a well at all. At best, it was a deep hole in the ground. Yes, there was water at the bottom, but it certainly wasn’t fit for her family to drink. Insects skimmed the surface of the water as dirt and debris sank beneath.
“The feelings of sadness and anger remain. I know this water they just collected will most likely make them sick.”
Countless feelings washed over me as I watched her daughter loop the arm of her pail over a notch in a branch to lower down to the water. Gratitude for the clean water that flows endlessly from the pipes in my home. Disgust at the conditions of the water this family will soon consume. A deep sadness for the reality that this exact scene is echoing in countless villages around the world, and a touch of anger that not enough is being done to fix it. I raised my camera and snapped my photo.
Water collected, the daughter smiles widely at me as she passes off the now filled bucket to her grandmother. She holds the second bucket of water as mom now holds her toddler son’s hand. Together, they make their way back up the path headed for home. I smile back at her, but it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. The feelings of sadness and anger remain. I know this water they just collected will most likely make them sick.
I take a moment, say a quick prayer for this family and this village, and make my own way back up the path to join my drill crew as they are setting up shop for the rig. Mustapha’s eyes meet mine as he fills the reservoir with water and starts to clear the site. This village still has 5 days to wait, but a new water well is coming soon. The family’s days of collecting water from this hole in the ground are coming to a close. I smile back at Mustapha with all the promise that the upcoming week holds for this village, for this mother’s daughter’s future. She will soon have a higher chance to make it to adulthood. She will have the time to attend school and dream of who she wants to become. And this time, it’s a smile that reaches my eyes.
