International Women’s Day: When Safe Water Changes a Woman’s Story

At 24 years old, Thelma is a mother of three living in rural Mozambique. Each day, she used to walk three hours to the river to collect water for her family. The journey was long and exhausting, and the water she carried home was not safe to drink. 

Without reliable access to safe water, sickness was common in the community. Time and energy were spent coping with preventable illness. For women like Thelma, the responsibility of collecting water left little room for anything else. 

When the community water point was repaired, daily life began to look very different. Safe water was now close to home. Alongside this, hygiene training helped families understand how to protect their health. 

With hours no longer spent walking to the river, Thelma can now focus on farming and supporting her family. Her home life has improved, and there is greater peace of mind knowing her children are growing up healthier. 

Most importantly, her daughter now has the chance to attend school consistently and dream of a brighter future. 

This International Women’s Day, we are running the 2:25 Campaign highlighting the 2 hours and 25 minutes on average that women and girls spend each day collecting water in rural Zambia and Mozambique. You can take on the 2:25 Challenge in solidarity and help turn those hours into opportunity. Your support will help bring safe water closer to home for families like Thelma’s. 

Join the 2:25 Campaign https://villagewater.org/campaign/two-twenty-five/