Clean water and sanitation transformed learning, health, and dignity for students at Ha Rannakoe Primary School in Southern Lesotho.

In the village of Katoba, challenges stemming from poor hygiene and sanitation have long affected the lives of pupils at Katoba Primary School. Limited access to clean water and inadequate sanitation facilities have made it difficult for children to stay healthy and attend school regularly. Many students resort to using unsafe water sources, which increases their risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. The lack of proper toilets and handwashing facilities has also contributed to unsanitary conditions, making it hard for pupils to practice good hygiene habits both in school and at home. These issues have particularly affected girls, who often miss school during their menstrual cycles due to the absence of private, clean facilities and access to sanitary products.

World Vision Afghanistan’s situation reports, outlining activities and impact for the months of April and May 2025.

At Kanchomba Primary School in Hamaundu, Zambia, 19-year-old Jessica’s life has been dramatically transformed thanks to World Vision’s work in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Now in twelfth grade, Jessica recalls spending up to three hours each day fetching water. She would walk before school, at lunchtime, and again in the evening, often missing classes due to these lengthy trips.

Guided by compassion and purpose, World Vision Ghana remained committed in 2024 to uplifting vulnerable children. Through strong partnerships nationwide, we delivered transformative support.

This article is a powerful story highlighting how a modest intervention, a personal plastic cup, greatly improved hygiene, hydration, and learning conditions in four schools in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It recounts the longstanding lack of potable water at Amani Primary School in Mutshatsha and the transformative impact of a borehole installed in 2022, which gave over 1,600 students access to clean water. However, without drinking containers, students were still unable to hydrate safely and effectively. In early 2025, a donation of 3,625 plastic cups across four schools allowed students to drink water hygienically and comfortably. This simple addition significantly reduced water waste, improved hygiene, and helped students stay focused in class. The initiative, part of World Vision’s Gifts-In-Kind (GIK) program, illustrates the profound impact of addressing overlooked details in development work.

Huda, 20, lives in isolation in rural Iraq. Disabled and in need of clean water, toilets, and medical care—her only escape is drawing and imagination.