Championing Clean Water Access for Children Worldwide
In today's world, access to clean water and proper hygiene practices is a fundamental right for every child. Cotes, dedicated to making a positive difference, is at the forefront of this mission supporting UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects around the globe. This critical funding helps ensure that thousands of children can thrive in clean and safe environments, significantly improving their chances for a healthier start in life.
The Importance of Clean Water for Children
Clean water is vital for children's health and well-being. It reduces the risk of waterborne diseases, enhances nutritional outcomes, and enables children to attend school without interruption. According to data from WHO and UNICEF, about 1 in 4 individuals lack reliable access to clean and safe water. Furthermore, many children spend hours each day collecting water, which robs them of valuable time for education and play.
Cotes’ support is directly helping to address these challenges. Cotes’ annual donation translates to more than 38 million liters of clean drinking water, equivalent to the installation of approximately 200 hand operated water pumps. These water pumps are crucial for small communities, as they can efficiently fetch water from depths of up to 12 meters while decreasing the heavy burden typically placed upon women and girls responsible for gathering water.
4-year-old Owen washing his hands with water from a UNICEF donated water tap
Transformative Stories from the Field: Fauzia’s Journey
One inspiring example of the impact of Cotes' contributions can be found in the story of 10-year-old Fauzia, who lives in the remote village of Qala-e-Noora in Afghanistan's Logar province. Before the implementation of any sustainable water supply in her community, Fauzia faced significant challenges. Each day, she, along with other children, had to push heavy wheelbarrows filled with water just to ensure her family had enough for cooking, cleaning, hygiene, and drinking.
Fauzia’s life was transformed when UNICEF installed a crucial water project in her village. Now, instead of spending hours fetching water, she can attend school regularly and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
She reflects on her past struggles, saying,
"Life was very hard when we didn’t have water. It was exhausting to wait in line for over an hour just to collect water."
Now, Fauzia and 31,000 people in eastern Afghanistan have access to clean drinking water—changing not only their health but their futures as well.
The Broader Impact of WASH Initiatives
UNICEF’s commitment to improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation is evident in its extensive efforts across various countries. Utilizing both human-powered and motor-powered water supply systems, UNICEF continues to tackle the global water crisis. By providing nearly 20,000 water pumps in 33 countries (most of them in Africa), UNICEF is ensuring that vulnerable communities can secure access to safe drinking water.
The WASH initiatives not only focus on health but also on gender equality. In households without stable water supplies, women and girls bear the brunt of water collection responsibilities. With 7 out of 10 households relying on them, they often miss educational opportunities and risk safety on their long journeys to remote water sources.
These contributions play a pivotal role in empowering women and enhancing their quality of life by relieving them of this arduous task.
Continuing the Fight for Clean Water and Hygiene
UNICEF's vision for WASH revolves around realizing the human rights to water and sanitation for all, especially for vulnerable children. As of now, an astounding 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion lack effective sanitation services. UNICEF aims to address these alarming statistics through relentless efforts to deliver safe WASH services in communities worldwide.
While significant progress has been made, the fight for universal access by 2030 remains. The latest annual report by UNICEF highlights essential successes but also underscores the reality that millions of children still face water scarcity and hygiene challenges.
The support of Cotes
Through initiatives like the one supported by Cotes, UNICEF can continue its life-changing work. Cotes stands as a beacon of hope for many, ensuring that children like Fauzia can dream of and achieve more for themselves simply by providing them with basic rights to clean water and sanitation.
The collaboration between Cotes and UNICEF not only impacts individual lives but also contributes to building resilient communities that can thrive in a safe climate and environment.
Cotes exemplifies how businesses can impact society positively. Our commitment to supporting UNICEF's WASH initiatives highlights the critical link between clean water access and the overall well-being of children globally. By continuing this vital support, Cotes is fostering a future where every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, educated, and safe.
