Did You Know?
- 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water
- 2.3 billion people lack access to handwashing facilities with soap
- More than half of the global population does not have access to safe sanitation
- 653 million people do not have access to hygienic toilet facilities
Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) is a human right and the most basic human need for health and well-being.
Yet, for over two billion people, this is not a reality.
The consequences of poor sanitation, unclean water, water scarcity, and improper hygiene can be life-threatening for everyone, but are particularly hazardous for children.
Impact on Children
Clean drinking water, or lack thereof, poor sanitation and hygiene practices adversely impact child development and even survival. Bacteria and parasites lead to diseases such as diarrhea and cholera, stunting physical and mental development, keeping children from critical time attending school and causing preventable fatalities.
WaSH in Schools
A school’s cleanliness and infrastructure can significantly impact children’s health and well-being. Disease can spread quickly in compact, inadequately ventilated spaces, where toilets are in disrepair and handwashing facilities are not accessible. Schools, often, are places where children start becoming ill.
Across the world, millions of women and girls lack access to appropriate facilities for menstrual hygiene management due to inadequate access to WaSH infrastructure and education. For school-aged girls, the lack of private toilets, hand washing stations and access to hygienic facilities means they are unable to maintain their menstrual hygiene in a safe and dignified manner.
On top of the increased risk of sickness, this results in further school absenteeism.
Education has the power to change lives; it is crucial in achieving societal equality, prosperous communities, and breaking the cycle of poverty. Missing vital parts of their education has severe economic and social costs on children’s lives and their communities. Without quality education, children face significant barriers to employment and wage-potential later in life.
Our Work
Utilizing the Sphere Handbook’s WASH standards as guiding principles, All Hands & Hearts (AH&H)’s work is inspired by the communities we support. We listen to their needs and adapt our scope of work to fulfill them.
Each approach in the communities we work differs based on cultural insights and environmental and social realities.
When we find a community in which a WaSH need is identified, a bespoke analysis is conducted, and solutions are proposed that are adapted to each community. To achieve this, it is essential to collaborate with local organizations that have previous experience implementing solutions in each country and can provide ongoing monitoring. WaSH projects require specific technical knowledge, and for this, we also seek to collaborate with international organizations that provide guidance when developing these projects.
At All Hands & Hearts, we understand that providing impactful and long-lasting relief to communities affected by disasters requires a deep understanding of their unique needs.
Providing WaSH solutions is just one way in which we holistically support a community’s recovery and help them to build back better.
