World Water Day

Clean water and proper sanitation are essential for children to grow up happy and healthy but according to the United Nations, 2.2 billion people are living without safely managed drinking water. Millions of children, often girls, are forced to walk an average of six kilometres (or 3.7 miles) every day to find water. Water that isn’t even safe or clean.

As a clean water charity, World Vision is partnering with communities to reach more children with clean water and provide long-term solutions to water scarcity. Learn more about World Water Day and how you can protect children from waterborne diseases and preventable thirst.

What is World Water Day?

World Water Day is an annual international day observed to raise awareness of the need for access to safe and clean water. Water scarcity is predicted to increase due to population growth and climate change.

There are a range of ways you can take action to solve the water and sanitation crisis on the day. From taking shorter showers to writing to politicians, you can support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. Many people and organisations also choose to voice their support online by using the hashtag #WorldWaterDay on social media.

When is World Water Day?

World Water Day is on 22 March 2024.

Each year, the World Day for Water falls on the 22 March. The day was formally proposed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro by the United Nations General Assembly, and it was adopted the year after as an annual observance day focusing on the importance of fresh water.

What is the theme of World Water Day 2024?

In 2024, the theme of World Water Day is “Water for Peace”.

The aim of this year’s theme is to share how water can be the catalyst behind both conflict and peace. The UN shares more about why this theme is so important: “When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges.

“We must act upon the realisation that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over – it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life.

“This World Water Day, we all need to unite around water and use water for peace, laying the foundations of a more stable and prosperous tomorrow.”

Children are most impacted by water scarcity

Sisters Mahana, nine, and Firdaoussou, 12, collect water from a well a quarter of a mile from their home in southwest Niger.

Firdaoussou makes this trip 12 times a day, meaning she doesn’t attend school and spends her time helping with housework.

The well only has enough water for four days before it runs dry, so Firdaoussou will be forced to walk even further to fetch water.

READ MORE: How clean water transforms lives

Life used to be easier

The water from this well isn’t just filthy - it’s dangerous.

“I have pain in my heart because my children have to drink it,” says their father, Mustafa.

Life in the village used to be easier. The well had a cover to keep the dirt and debris out. Frogs couldn’t hop inside and lay eggs. The rains came on time.

Now there are droughts and floods that disrupt harvests and dry out wells.

How does World Vision help supply water around the world?

For families like Mahana and Firdaoussou, World Vision works to improve access to clean water by drilling new boreholes and restoring water points so they have water close to home. We’re also installing water systems at schools and health clinics – keeping children in school, combating sanitation-related diseases and alleviating hunger. But we need your help to reach more children.

“If we get clean water, I will rest,” says Firdaoussou, “because I won’t need to go to the well every morning. I will be so happy.”  

Provide clean water today

We are proud to say that we are the largest non-government provider of clean water in the developing world, providing safe drinking water and ensuring communities are empowered with better hygiene and sanitation practices.

By sponsoring a child, you can transform a child’s life. And because of our community-focused solutions, for every child you sponsor, four more will benefit too. Protecting children from dirty water and keeping them in school.