World Water Day 2024: Water for Peace

Highlighting the critical role water plays in promoting global stability and prosperity, we celebrate World Water Day each year on March 22nd. This year's theme, 'Water for Peace,' emphasizes how water scarcity and pollution can lead to conflicts among communities and nations. It’s concerning that out of 153 countries sharing water resources, only 24 have cooperation agreements in place despite over 3 billion people worldwide relying on water that crosses national borders. As climate change intensifies and the global population grows, we must cooperate to protect and conserve this vital resource.

In Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya, HopeCore has led efforts to improve children's water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions. Providing handwashing soap and hygiene education has improved health and reduced absenteeism in schools due to waterborne diseases. Since the inception of the WASH program in 2014, HopeCore has provided schools with water tanks for drinking water and handwashing, distributed WaterGuard units for water treatment, and delivered health education on hygiene and sanitation. In 2023, the program expanded outside of Mwimbi and Muthambi sub-counties to 101 schools in Igambang`ombe sub-county and now benefits 60,000 students across 287 schools.

The impact of the WASH program has been significant, increasing access to clean handwashing and drinking water. HopeCore has provided 1000-liter drinking water tanks to schools in these sub-counties and worked to refurbish existing water tanks. 

HopeCore also conducted teacher training sessions to promote hygiene practices and ran chlorine water tests to ensure drinking water was treated properly. These initiatives have empowered teachers and students to promote hygiene and sanitation in their schools and communities, while water quality assessments have identified areas of improvement in safe water practices. 

To further emphasize the importance of proper hygiene practices, HopeCore participates in  Hand Washing Day and Menstrual Hygiene Day. Inadequate funding and water scarcity continue to be challenges to safe water access, with comprehensive plans for mitigation and future program expansion already in place.

This World Water Day, let us join forces to ensure access to clean water, promote sustainable practices, and work towards a more peaceful and prosperous world for all