This is Fatuma's Day

Fatuma, a Somali widow, used to walk nearly four miles every day to fetch water. After her daughters gave up their studies to help her, one of them was raped on her way to the water source. Then, the IRC installed a pipeline to Fatuma’s village. Clean water now flows less than 300 feet from her doorstep. (For her protection, this woman's real name and photo do not appear here)

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Her Challenge

Millions of women like Fatuma walk long distances each day to fetch water for their households — risking injury, sexual assault and sometimes death. They lose valuable hours that could be spent earning an income and the high cost of water means they must go without other household necessities.

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66% of the world's work is performed by women. 50% of the world's food is produced by women. 1% of the world's property is owned by women.

The solutions

In Fatuma’s village, the IRC repaired the water source and established a pipeline to deliver clean, less expensive water. Fatuma’s daughters are back in school and she now runs a small business. In drought-stricken Somalia alone, the IRC is providing water to nearly 80,000 people—including women, children and the elderly.

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