Kigali, 22nd March 2021, World Vision Rwanda, through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme has made tremendous efforts to achieve its target of reaching one million people with access to clean and hundreds of families with improved sanitation and hygiene in their households.

The Christian humanitarian organisation that works to support the most vulnerable children to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice, operates in 29 districts in the country with interventions in education, economic development, health and nutrition, child protection, disaster management and water among many others.

Today on World Water Day, as the world celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis alluding to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which is to achieve availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030, World Vision has made tremendous efforts towards supporting communities to access clean water.

With a target to reach one million people in Rwanda with access to clean water by 2022, World Vision is at 48% towards achieving its goal where 486,614 people have been given access to clean water through the organization’s intervention in partnership with local government.

According to the National Director of World Vision Rwanda, Mr. Sean Kerrigan, water is an essential part of children’s lives. "Every child has the right to access safe water and live in a clean environment in order to flourish and do well in school” he said. "Attaining universal water coverage is a huge responsibility that requires more key players to join efforts for a common goal” he added.

Last year alone, World Vision supported 234,487 people, including 107,863 children, to access clean water through construction of water supply systems in schools, and in different communities. In an effort to curb the spread of Covid19, the humanitarian organization partnered with Ministry of Education to support 250 schools with construction of handwashing facilities and with the Ministry of Health for the construction of handwashing stations in hospitals and health centres.

Along with provision of increased access to clean water, World Vision supports communities with promotion of sanitation and hygiene through behaviour change communications aimed at creating a safe and conducive environment for children and their families.