Water is an essential part of daily life but, sadly, some countries still don’t have the access to it that they need. Nicola Swann from the charity Just a Drop tells us about the importance of clean and safe water, and how we can help those in need.

Why is water important?

Water is one of our most basic needs. It forms an essential part of our everyday lives and, without it, we would not survive. Just think about how often you turn on the tap, whether to brush your teeth, take a bath, or have a drink – it’s easy to take water for granted.

Did you know? 

Many people in developing countries do not have access to clean and safe water. In fact, diseases from unsafe or polluted water kill more people every year than the effects of war. Children are mainly at risk, as their immune systems are not fully developed to fight against many waterborne illnesses such as diarrhoea, cholera and bilharzia.

Children in poor environments often carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at a time, and almost 4,000 children die every day due to unsafe water. That’s one child every 20 seconds!

Just a Drop 

The international water aid charity Just a Drop raises funds to build wells and hand pumps in local communities, and has ensured that more than one million children worldwide have access to a clean, safe and local water supply.

To illustrate, one of Just a Drop’s current projects is supporting a number of schools in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake which took place there in 2010. The quake killed around 230,000 people and the damage was such that it led to an outbreak of cholera; the lack of sanitation caused many schools to close down. The project will provide some of these schools with access to safe drinking water and toilets to maintain sanitation – helping the children to regain a sense of normality in their lives and to look towards a brighter future.

How can you help? 

This year, Just a Drop is encouraging schools across the UK to support its vital work. With the help of the pupils at Kew College in London, the Go Blue! campaign was launched on 27 January, to encourage schools to wear something blue on 22 March – which just so happens to be World Water Day. Schools can show their support on this day by donating £1 towards Just a Drop’s water aid projects around the globe. It’s as simple as that! So, if your favourite football team is Chelsea or Spurs, you could come to school in your favourite team’s strip! But whether you spray your hair or paint your face blue – your £1 is all it takes to provide a child with clean, safe water for ten years.

If you would like to take part and find out more about how your school can Go Blue! please contact Nicola Swann at nicola.swann@reedexpo.co.uk. Or visit our website at www.justadrop.org and download our Splash 4 Kids pack, which contains a whole range of fundraising ideas showing how you or your school can get involved.

Good luck!