Since we started in 1981, we’ve remained resolutely focused on tackling these three essentials that transform people’s lives. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.

Over 771 million people in the world don’t have access to safe water (that’s roughly one in ten of the world’s population). These people risk deadly waterborne disease each time they drink from a dirty borehole, a polluted stream or a dangerous well. Children are most vulnerable – Around 290,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's over 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.

You can see why we’re passionate about this work. And working on this for over a decade has taught us that empowering people to make change within their own community is the first vital step out of poverty. Together, we will change millions of lives for the better – and change normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation.