To mark the Day of the African Child, hundreds of children in Ngandu, Kinshasa, took to the streets to raise awareness about the importance of safe water, hygiene, and sanitation. Organised by World Vision DRC, the event empowered children to become advocates for healthier communities while encouraging families to adopt good hygiene practices and protect water sources. The celebration highlighted the vital role children can play in driving positive change and promoting a healthier future for all.

Day of the African Child 2026: Every Child Deserves Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Ten-year-old Ayen walks daily to the Sobat River in Anackdiar Payam, where her family, displaced by conflict, relies on unsafe water for all basic needs. The contaminated river water especially during floods causes frequent illness, leaving Ayen often too weak to play. Her mother, Nyajuma, worries as sickness becomes routine for their children. Despite hardship, the community remains resilient but exhausted. Hope is emerging through a World Vision WASH project funded by the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which will provide safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. For families like Ayen’s, access to clean water offers a chance for health, dignity, and a better future.

A high-level delegation from Lesotho concluded a week-long learning visit to Eswatini, exploring the country's universal water service coverage model and witnessing the impact of water projects in communities before attending the commissioning of the Bulekeni Potable Water Project.

Calls to accelerate universal access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for children in Africa, addressing gaps harming health, education and protection.

Highlights rising risks for refugees, especially children, including limited services, disrupted learning and protection concerns, urging urgent coordinated action.

“We used to get sick all the time. We kept getting diarrhea, and it disrupted our family life and our studies,” says Ernestine.

Members hope to begin selling pork as the herd grows and eventually establish a butchery within the settlement, creating additional employment and business opportunities.

World Vision Malawi has improved access to clean water at Carmushka Primary School in Phalombe through the construction of a borehole that is benefiting 896 learners. For years, pupils depended on a single community water source which led to long queues and delayed lesson time, affecting learning and school routines. With the new borehole now within the school premises, learners are spending less time fetching water and more time in class, while hygiene conditions have significantly improved.

Following severe flooding in Fungurume, World Vision and its partners provided emergency assistance to 260 affected families and educational support to 100 children. The intervention delivered essential household items, helped sustain access to education, and contributed to broader health and WASH efforts aimed at reducing cholera risks and supporting community recovery.