In rural Niger, the struggle for access to clean water and basic sanitation is a daily burden with devastating consequences. Nearly 58% of the rural population lacks access to safe drinking water, and over 90% live without even a basic latrine. These conditions contribute to one of the world’s highest child mortality rates—one in seven children in Niger dies before reaching the age of five, often from preventable, waterborne illnesses. The burden of securing water typically falls on women and girls, who may walk 4–6 miles each day to retrieve contaminated water. This daily responsibility not only endangers their health but also keeps girls out of school, contributing to a female illiteracy rate of 85%.

Yet beneath the ground lies an untapped solution: a vast supply of clean water just 250–300 feet below the surface. Through the installation of deep-water wells and training communities in their maintenance, we can drastically reduce waterborne diseases and cut child mortality by up to 70%. These wells also relieve women and girls of their daily trek for water, giving them time and opportunity to attend school or engage in meaningful economic activity.

Empowerment goes further when women are trained to form village savings groups. These groups provide financial tools for women to start small businesses, build independence, and serve as role models within their communities. As girls are able to stay in school, they tend to delay marriage and childbirth, lowering their risk of maternal complications, including obstetric fistula. When women thrive, families and entire villages benefit. Marriages become partnerships, children grow up healthier and more educated, and communities take collective steps toward long-term development and dignity. Clean water is not only a basic human need—it is a gateway to education, economic empowerment, and generational change.

Want to get involved? Make a donation, create a fundraiser or consider sending this article to your friends. If your friends tell their friends, who tell their friends – that’s a whole lot of friends. So join us on Facebook, Twitter, and share our latest stories, blogs and posts. Your support and sharing our story with your friends helps us achieve our mission. Answer the call today and fulfill Jesus’ mandate to be in mission.