July 2025
WATER FOR EVERYONE
Find out how over one million people’s lives were transformed in Rwanda
A life-changing partnership
In 2018, World Vision and the Government of Rwanda launched an ambitious initiative: to bring clean water to 1 million people within five years. The goal? To ensure that everyone living in areas where World Vision was working has access to safe, reliable water.
A family’s journey from struggle to hope
In Rwanda’s Northern Province, Juvenal,44, and Olive, 39, were raising their five children in challenging conditions. Having survived the 1994 genocide at age 15, Juvenal had once dreamed of becoming a teacher — but poverty and hardship stood in the way.
Their daughter Merci, now 13, remembers the toll it took.
“We didn’t play with other children,” she says. “We didn’t have the energy.”
Every day, Juvenal would get up at 3am to fetch water. Merci often followed, arriving late to school. In the afternoons, she and her mother would make the long walk again — only to face long queues at the spring.
“The ones with strength would fetch water,” Merci recalls. “People would push each other. Those who were weak would wait.”
A turning point: sponsorship and clean water
Everything began to change when Juvenal’s eldest son, From God, 17, was sponsored through World Vision. The family received training in modern farming techniques and learned how to market their produce. For the first time, they began earning a sustainable income.
Two years later, clean water arrived in their village.
Now, children like Merci have access to safe water at home and at school. They can drink clean water, wash their hands, and girls can manage their periods with dignity — no longer missing school. The local health centre, which serves 20,000 people, now has clean water and inclusive sanitation facilities for people with disabilities.
Merci now arrives at school on time and ranks second in her class. And Juvenal? He’s making plans to attend university and finally pursue his dream of becoming a teacher.
A nationwide impact
Today, the results speak for themselves. The original goal of reaching 1 million people has been surpassed. Every person in the 39 areas where World Vision works in Rwanda now has access to clean water.
But this story is about more than water. It’s about education, health, livelihoods, and the power of thriving communities.
You’re helping make incredible things happen — now let us help you in return
As a heartfelt thank you for your support, we’re offering you the chance to write your Will for free. Through our trusted partnership with Octopus Legacy, you’ll have access to expert support — whether you prefer to complete your Will online, over the phone, at a local branch or with a home visit from their team.
Protect what matters most — start your free Will today.
WORLD VISION AND WATER – QUICK FACTS
- World Vision is the largest non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world.
- Every 10 seconds, one new person accesses clean water.
- Every day, World Vision reaches three more schools with clean water.
Water is life
Access to clean water makes so much possible in long-term development work – as do Gift in Wills or collections and donations made in memory of a relative or friend:
£4,510 could deliver five permanent public handwashing stations – protecting children from the spread of deadly infectious diseases and improving the health of whole communities.
£37,600 could provide one school with the infrastructure to receive clean water, handwashing facilities, separate latrines for boys and girls and training on hygiene – enabling girls to attend classes even when they’ve got their period and complete their education.
£93,943 could bring water, sanitation and hygiene services to a healthcare centre – ensuring that doctors and nurses can clean their hands between patients and mothers don’t have to bring water to wash their newborns after giving birth.
