Millions of South African children and the communities they live in are still in need of access to safe and clean water. These communities, especially in the water-scarce regions of Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, continue to experience impacts of climate change, and the aftershocks of COVID-19.
Christian, child-focused humanitarian aid agency, World Vision, says whilst there has been a significant increase in the number of children and families accessing safe water in South Africa, millions more vulnerable children remain in need.
As government, cooperating partners and civil society organisations celebrated this year’s World Water Day with the theme “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”. World Vision South Africa warns that clean and safe drinking water availability is becoming less predictable for many families and communities.
“There is nothing as painful as being forced to drink the same water which animals also drink; the water may be contaminated,” said resident, Mashudu Mokwasi, from Sekgosese in Limpopo.
Shina, a 12-year old girl from Mbhashe in the Eastern Cape, understands the importance of close access to a clean water source. A year ago, Shina had to walk long distances to fetch water. This affected her timely arrival at school, which negatively affected her school performance and exposed her to the dangers of being alone and often in the dark.
“I’m happy things have changed now for my family, myself and my community after World Vision South Africa installed a borehole, pump and tap within easy reach and sight of my home.”
Over the past 55 years, World Vision South Africa has played a vital role in the sustainable and transformational development of the most vulnerable communities in South Africa. They have courageously taken on the challenges of education, health, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), livelihoods and child protection.
As an example of their impact World Vision South Africa has drilled 43 boreholes in four areas benefiting 95 431 people.
In the past two years, World Vision South Africa, in partnership with The Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and UNICEF SA, launched water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects which to date have achieved the following:
- Provided 40 Water storage facilities in central community points, including schools and clinics
- Installed 127 Hand washing stations in central community points, including schools and clinics.
Bruce Layzell, the National Director of World Vision South Africa, says, “We are inspired to work in the most vulnerable communities in South Africa, regions that receive a disproportionately smaller portion of CSI and other funding, because the potential of the children in these communities is vast and unlimited. We want to give flight to this potential and the least we can do is ensure that their fundamental human rights are attended to. Our impact is made possible through our strategic partnership with institutional funders and although much has been achieved, there is still so much to do. We therefore call upon the public and corporate South Africa to have the courage to join us in fighting for our rural heartland and financially support World Vision’s work.”
