Water for a better future

Clean drinking water for children in Bhutan

When people talk about Bhutan, the small Himalayan country, most of them say: "Aren't they the ones that are all about happiness?" And indeed, Bhutan has a very special characteristic: The country measures its development by what is known as Gross National Happiness. Of course, economic development also plays a role here, but the main thing is that it should be slow and fair. Environmental protection is also considered to be of paramount importance. Bhutan is the only country in the world that sequesters more CO2 than it emits (Yangka, Rauland and Newman, 2018). Children learn to protect their environment from an early age. But although Bhutan is strongly committed to environmental protection, the population is suffering from the consequences of climate change. The country is increasingly struggling with water shortages.

Background

Much has happened in Bhutan since the introduction of Gross National Happiness: Poverty has fallen, more and more children can attend school and health care has improved. Nevertheless, Bhutan is still one of the so-called "least developed countries". Especially in rural areas, many people live in great poverty (UNDP, 2020). In 2017, only 27.6 per cent of the rural population had access to clean drinking water (The Global Economy, 2017). Many villages do not have their own water sources. Periods of drought and flooding caused by climate change make water supply more difficult (UNDP, 2019). In 1984, the national school health programme was introduced. Among other things, drinking water is to be made available in schools. However, many schools are still facing major challenges: One school in five simply does not have access to clean drinking water. In the remaining rural schools, water quality is often inadequate (UNICEF, 2020). It is not only children's health that suffers: Due to diseases caused by unclean water, many children cannot attend school or are severely affected in their learning (WHO, JMP, UNICEF, 2018).

The good deed

Thanks to your good deed today, school children in rural areas will get clean drinking water. The local partner organisation of the association Nomadenhilfe e.V. is installing water tanks, water pipes and solar-powered water filters in the schools together with the villagers. In addition, the organisation runs workshops to inform the pupils and their families about the subject of clean water and hygiene. At each school, water experts are trained to take care of the facilities over the long term. In this way, the good deed can ensure a sustainable drinking water supply and reduce the risk of disease. The local water supply enables the children to learn continuously and in a concentrated way - and thus to have better opportunities for the future.