Women's empowerment 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
Elizabeth's Dream
Elizabeth's dream

When one has time to follow their dreams, those dreams can become reality. However, millions of women around the world don’t have time to realize their dreams. Women like Elizabeth. Instead of pursuing her dream of making dresses to support her family, she spent that time each day collecting water. Mile after mile, heavy bucket after heavy bucket of water, it seemed there was no end in sight.

Read more
Namulondo
Health and hope are flowing

Namulondo is a hardworking health assistant at a local hospital and a loving single mom who has dedicated her life to caring for her children. A small, affordable loan helped Namulondo pay for a rain storage tank, providing her family with enough water for several months.

Read more
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
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
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
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
Lakshmee
She changed her world

After learning that small, affordable loans were available from their local bank to fund needed water taps or toilets, Lakshmee wanted to tell her friends and neighbors. She knew this could change all of their lives, and their community. Read more about how access to safe water and sanitation empowers moms to do more for themselves and their families.

Read more
women in India
Three moms and their stories

Narrated by Jodie Foster, watch the inspiring stories of three mothers who broke the cycle of poverty and found a path to water. Each from different parts of the world, these women shared the need for access to water and sanitation at home. Discover how they overcame their water crises with small, affordable loans. The loans empowered each woman with the funds needed to purchase safe water and sanitation solutions for their families. As moms, these resources further empowered them to do more for themselves and their families.

Read more
Semambo coffee
Semambo Grows

Upon meeting Semambo one discovers she is truly living out the beauty of her dreams. Strong and bold like the coffee she grows, she overcame obstacles that once stood between her and the ability to earn an income to support her family.

Read more
Carrying a vessel
Her crisis

Today, 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water. Each one has great potential, yet the burden of the water crisis hinders their every attempt to break free from the cycle of poverty. When it comes down to who will bear the burden of daily water collection, it’s women and children.

Read more
Grace
Safe water and pregnancy

Grace’s baby was due to arrive any day. Grace lives in a small rural village several hours south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Thirty-three million people lack access to safe water in her country. Read about how a small, affordable loan empowered Grace and her husband to give their young family safe water and a bright future.

Read more

Together, we can empower more families with safe water.

Donate