Join the KnowH2O Back-to-School Pump Drive

As back-to-school time is upon us here in the US, we are reminded of the millions of children around the world who are out of school. They want nothing more than to go to school and learn, but they lack access to basic education.

Chances are if you are reading this, you have never missed school because you didn’t have access to water. You have never been thirsty. Truly thirsty. You probably don’t have to walk up to five miles everyday to collect water for your family. It’s likely that if you want a drink of water at school, you just turn the tap.

School children need water to learn. Studies show that children are 12% more likely to attend school if water is available within 15 minutes rather than one hour’s walk. Without an accessible water supply, children - especially girls - spend so much time collecting water that they do not have time to attend school, they may not enroll at all or they may be frequently absent. Water-related illnesses increase absenteeism for all children and result in a loss of over 443 million school days globally each year.

Let’s change this. Together, let’s fight for the day where every child in the world can take a safe drink of water AND go to school.

Here are three things that you can do to help:

1. Give the gift of water, give the gift of a brighter future.
Visit our new Sponsor a Pump program to learn how you, your class, club, or community can help give the benefits of clean drinking water to schools in Africa that are waiting for your help. Create your own friendraising page and invite your friends and family to donate towards your pump. Personalize your page, feature your donors in our new honor scroll, and gauge your progress with our animated thermometer.

If you raise enough money for one pump, you will receive a recognition plaque and special decorative wire model from PlayPumps International. In addition, your pump on the groundwill feature a small plaque featuring your group or class name.

2. Educate yourself. Test your Water IQ and earn the Know H2O Think badge. 
Take our water quiz today and tell your friends to do the same.

3. Be a water hero.
Walk in solidarity with the many children, students, moms and dads that don’t have access to water. Start a fundraising drive, hold a water walk, lead a water fast, and encourage your peers and your community to conserve water. Learn more with our Action Kit.

Act now so that children, all children, have access to clean water and a chance to go “back-to-school”. Giving children access to clean water provides opportunity and hope for their brighter future.

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