World Water Day: 5 Ways Children Believe is building more sustainable water systems in Ghana

One in three people globally do not have access to safe drinking water, a report from UNICEF, World Health Organization stated. Helping to provide life’s basic needs, such as water, is one way Children Believe is helping thriving communities. On February 7^th 2023, the lives of the people in Sukaya, Ghana changed for the better, “it’s what their elders waited for and what they had prayed for, for several years,” when they finally got water flowing to their community.

Sukaya is a rural community in Ghana and Children Believe started working in this community in 2006 alongside our partner Markaz Al Bishara. Like many rural communities in Ghana, Sukaya lacked basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Clean water is not only essential for health but it helps children continue their education as many students have to walk eight kilometers for clean water before they start their day, causing absenteeism and tardiness.

The Water for Education Project was initiated to provide clean drinking water for the people in this community and eliminates the long walk many children have to take which keeps them in school. With donations from our amazing supporters, we’ve been able to give the gift of water and create life sustaining change over the past 5 months in the Sukaya community by:

• Finding a sustainable source of clean water and constructed a solar powered mechanized borehole
• Installing three water fetching points
• Constructing a gender- separate latrine with a urinal
• Installing handwashing facilities outside the latrines at the Sukaya Primary School
• Promoting community-wide sanitation and hygiene

At the commissioning of the project, the Associate Country Director of Children Believe, Madam Esenam Kavi De Souza said, “With proper care and maintenance, the water facility could last at least 25 years.” And asked the communities to cultivate the habit of maintenance to ensure that all the facilities are well maintained to work for a long time.

Thank you to all supporters who have donated and helped dreams like clean water come true for the Sukaya community. The need for clean water in other rural communities in Ghana and internationally is still great. You can help more communities like Sukaya access clean water through our gift catalogue today.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.