Rural and urban regions of many African nations lack clean water supply, meaning that every day, thousands of Africans die for reasons related to lack of clean water. Nearly one billion people worldwide lack access to safe water; the health and economic impacts are staggering. At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.

Children are particularly at risk in areas that lack clean water, because 84% of water-related deaths occur in children under the age of 15 years.  An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day. Many African women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. Meanwhile, the clean water sources are between 300 to 1000 feet underground!

A lasting solution is needed!

ATI has an opportunity to support holistic transformation through digging wells in key locations around East Africa.

Land is an accessible resource to most people of East Africa. However, in order for the land to produce food, diverse water sources are needed since rainfall is often not dependable or adequate. Wells act as an alternative source of water for domestic and horticultural farming. Well projects can move from merely producing food for sustenance to creating wealth for communities. The main aim is to see the cycle of dependence on food aid broken, and communities moved from merely self-sustenance to wealth creation. Clean water can be sold at a low price in order to improve sanitation and combat hygiene concerns in both rural and urban communities. 

Upon completion, water from the wells will be useful in various ways, including

provision of drinking water to the community

irrigation of farms or horticultural projects to facilitate sustainable agriculture

domestic use by the community for cooking and washing

nursery irrigation for tree planting (go to Trees)

We believe that healing is being awaited by all creation (Romans 8:19). Provision of water will help establish food security, and help Africa become healthy and green once again.