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
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From fear and heartache to comfort and pride

For most moms, the health and safety of their children are always top of mind. Even before a mom’s own needs, giving her kids the essential resources needed to protect and save their lives is the priority. For Masura in Bangladesh, not being able to give their kids resources like safe water and a private toilet can be scary and heartbreaking.

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Gecilda is at peace and happy

Gecilda’s life in Sitio Boa Esperança, a small rural community in Brazil, was once defined by her family’s need for water and the challenges she faced to obtain it. Watch to find out how a small, affordable loan for a lasting safe water solution helped change her life

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From safe water flows hope

Aucilene's story is one of resilience, transformation, and hope. Before her family got lasting, affordable access to a reliable water source, Aucilene felt every day was a battle. “It was tough,” she recalls. “We had to collect water from far away.” Thanks to your support, Aucilene has access to safe water at home now, where hope and opportunities for her family flow.

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She is a warrior

“Being a woman and getting water… is being a warrior!” After years of relentless struggle to find and collect the water her family needed to survive, Francisca stands victorious over her water crisis. “I am a real warrior because I have been through a lot of hard times,” she declares with pride.

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Finding their wealth in safe water

Jacqueline's story is a testament to the determination many women and their families demonstrate as they endure and overcome one of the world's greatest challenges, a lack of access to safe water at home.

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She is not afraid anymore

With no more uncertainty about the quality of their water or where it will come from each day, Carfel confidently shared, “I am not afraid anymore.” Thanks to the support of our generous donors and funders, Carfel’s worries and fears about the water her family needed have turned to gratitude and comfort because now they have lasting access to safe water at home and the health, hope, and life that flow from it.

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When you have water...

Without access to water on their property, Resty, along with her three children—ages 14, 9, and 7—woke early each day to make several trips to a neighbor’s home to collect the water they needed. In addition to collecting water from their neighbor’s well, Resty and her children walked to a nearby river to bathe and do laundry. Resty wanted a safe water solution for her family at home and through our work, she was able to give them one.

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Miraildes' battle for water is over

Miraildes and her husband, Jose raise their family of four in Brejao in the state of Bahia where rivers flow, hills span for miles, and coffee farms flourish. For many years the family lacked a reliable source of safe water at home. To get water, Miraildes walked to a river to collect it. She called this a daily battle for water. Read more to find out how a small loan empowered Miraildes and her husband to end their water crisis.

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Safe water for Fabiana and Jose's family

Celebrating the life-changing solution Fabiana shared, “Our lives changed one hundred percent! I used to carry water on my head. I washed dishes and clothes in the river.” Read Fabiana and Jose's story to learn how a small, affordable loan helped change their family's lives in Brazil.

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Safe water turns challenges into choices

To Elivane, water is everything. For many years, the activities of her days were controlled by the time she spent walking to and from a river to collect the water her family needed. Now she has access to safe water at home and the time to earn income, care for her home, and create the life she wants for her daughter.

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Safe water for Sharifa's family and friends

As a mother of young children, Sharifa struggled with the time it took to find and collect water for her family. And most of all, she struggled with seeing her children get sick from the only water she could give them.

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A grandma proudly gives her family a safe place to go

Until a few years ago, Corazon’s family lacked access to a toilet at home. They used a makeshift toilet about 10 meters from their home. Click to find out how a small loan helped make a lasting, safe sanitation solution possible for Corazon and her family.

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Together, we can empower more families with safe water.

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