Day 2

Five days of clean drinking water for a schoolchild in Bhutan

Water for a better future

Clean drinking water for children in Bhutan

When we talk about Bhutan, the small state in the Himalayas, in Germany, most people say: “They’re the ones with the luck!” And indeed, Bhutan has one very special feature: the country measures its development in terms of what is known as gross national happiness. Of course, economic development also plays a role here, but above all it should be slow and fair. Environmental protection is also given outstanding importance. Bhutan is the only country in the world that stores more CO2 than it emits (Yangka, Rauland and Newman, 2018). Children learn from an early age to protect their environment. But although Bhutan is strongly committed to environmental protection, the population is suffering from the consequences of climate change. The country is increasingly struggling with water shortages.

need

Drinking water for school children in Bhutan.

activity

The local partner organization, together with the village community, is building water tanks, water pipes and solar-powered water filters at schools.

Measurable performance

Number of days on which clean drinking water can be provided and number of water tanks with filtration systems installed at schools.

Result

School children have access to clean drinking water. They get sick less often and can go to school more regularly.

Systemically relevant impact

The health of children in Bhutan is improving. This increases their educational and future opportunities.

background

A lot has happened in Bhutan since the introduction of Gross National Happiness: poverty has decreased, more and more children can attend school and health care has improved. Nevertheless, Bhutan is still one of the so-called "least developed countries". Many people live in great poverty, especially in rural areas (UNDP, 2020). In 2017, only 27.6 percent of the rural population had access to clean drinking water (The Global Economy, 2017). Many villages do not have their own water sources. Droughts and floods caused by climate change make water supplies more difficult (UNDP, 2019).

The national school health program was introduced in 1984. One of the aims of this is to provide drinking water in schools. However, many schools still face major challenges: one in five schools simply does not have access to clean drinking water. In the remaining rural schools, the water quality is often poor (UNICEF, 2020). It is not just the health of children that suffers: due to diseases caused by contaminated water, many children are unable to attend school or are severely impaired in their learning (WHO, JMP, UNICEF, 2018).

The good deed

Your good deed today will provide school children in rural areas with clean drinking water. The local partner organization of the Nomadenhilfe eV association is working with the villagers to install water tanks, water pipes and solar-powered water filters in the schools. Workshops are also held to inform the students and their families about clean water and hygiene. Water experts are trained at each school to look after the facilities in the long term. This good deed can thus ensure a sustainable drinking water supply and reduce the risk of illness. The local water supply enables the children to learn continuously and in a focused manner - and thus better prospects for the future.