All stories

Together, we've empowered millions of people with access to safe water and sanitation. We invite you to meet some of them and read their stories.

All stories
Lima
Ariacelle

When given a choice and an opportunity to pay for water and sanitation improvements over a reasonable period of time, families in need often choose to finance long-term solutions versus pay high prices, or struggle day-to-day, to get that next liter of water. Ariacelle once struggled daily to pay for bottled water and find a safe place to go. A small, affordable loan empowered Ariacelle with the funds needed to pay for the installation of a toilet and sink in her home.

Read more
Birtukan
Because of you

Because of you, life is different for millions of people around the world. It’s different for people like Dora and Moses in Peru, and Birtukan in Uganda, for Sariati in Indonesia, and for Birtukan in Ethiopia.

Read more
Birtukan and Adisuu
To endless possibilities

With a small, affordable loan, Birtukan and Adisu were able to install a water connection on their land. Now, their four children are going to school and dreaming about the future.

Read more
Zawelde and Lumiu
Lumiu gave his family water and a toilet

“When our kids were young, they collected water and they used the outdoors instead of a toilet. It is common for kids here, but they were too young for such a task, and going outdoors isn’t safe. They needed rest, safety, and they needed time for school.” Lumiu did not like this way of life for their kids.

Read more
Ethiopia hands and money
Who will solve their crisis

We believe that at least half of the people in need of safe water and sanitation are the solution to their own water crisis. They are men and women, who, despite living in poverty, are already making huge financial sacrifices to try to change their water and sanitation situation.

Read more
Lomitu
Water means Lomitu saves time and earns more

The people with the least access to safe water are spending the most time and money to get it. People like Lomitu. See how access to safe water at home saved Lomitu time, empowering her to earn more income.

Read more
Juleha
Juleha

Water.org made possible for people like Juleha and her husband small, affordable loans to cover the up-front costs associated with connecting to their local water utility’s pipelines. Read Juleha's story.

Read more
Jerrycans Ethiopia
The cost of water in Ethiopia

Across the country people are paying large portions of their daily income for water. Whether they are purchasing water from vendors or buying it from neighbors, this takes away from giving their families more in life.

Read more
Loan repayment
The story of WaterCredit

Watch as we share with you how WaterCredit progressed into what is now a solution that is empowering millions of people in need in India and around the world.

Read more
Ruth reading
Ruth can read

Proud of herself, Ruth read to her mother. The two sat enjoying Ruth's book just a few feet from their new water connection. This connection means Ruth will never know the water crisis like her mother once did. Instead, Ruth can focus on school, and reading her favorite books.

Read more
A Better Path
A better path to water

Gary White, Co-Founder & CEO of Water.org, has been working to improve lives with access to safe water for more than twenty years. These two decades of experience led Gary to realize that the traditional cycle of philanthropy (spend money to provide water, and raise money for the next village) would never solve the water crisis for every person on the planet. There had to be a better path.

Read more
Leneriza Story
The cost of Leneriza's water, then and now

The people with the least access to safe water are spending the most to get it. People like Leneriza.

Read more

Together, we can empower more families with safe water.

Donate