The Zambia Project

Written by Justin Deimen.

Almost a billion people worldwide suffer needlessly from the lack of clean, drinkable water – that’s one in eight people. Almost 2000 children die each day from water-related maladies. We take our easy access to hygienic water and food, our toilets, and infrastructure for granted, while the lack of water in many areas around the world create a destructive cycle of poverty and social exclusion.

Thanks to Beyond Blindfold, we got to know about World Vision’s Project Zambia, a clean water project with the aim of eradicating the global water crisis within this generation. This is a cause that’s fundamental to civilization as it affects and impacts so many facets of society – water is not only vital for human life but it is vital for human activities. From physical ailments, to starvation, to the economy, to safety of women and children, to education, to wars and poverty – clean water is at the center of it all.

According to the World Health Organization, for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $3 and $34. Girls in rural communities quit school when they hit puberty due to the lack of toilets and running water in the vicinity, leading to a mismatch of educational levels between men and women, further bolstering patriarchal injustices. Water woes are on the cards, according to the U.S. National Intelligence Council as North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia are key regions that will face major challenges coping with water problems.

We see how water projects have changed the lives of the people in Zambia. What we take for granted each and every day is a miracle to them. Water is not just delivered to them but they are taught to create sustainable water points that benefit entire communities to not just have safe and potable sources of life, it also empowers them to have grand designs for futures that will bring social and economic capital for generations to come.