Discussion Guide for

“Water
for All”
After viewing “Water for All,” use this guide to research the importance of clean water to
people and the environment, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned,
respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and
rely on His goodness and power.

Research
» 8 8 4 m i l l i on people worldwide lack access to safe water. More than 2.5
billion people worldwide lack basic sanitation facilities. Inadequate access to safe
water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens
thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished
opportunities for thousands more. Source: UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

» O n e c h i l d dies every 7 because of water or weaning food

contaminated by lethal doses of viruses, parasites, and bacteria. More than half of
these deaths could be prevented with access to clean water for drinking and soap for
hand washing. What’s more, nearly 90 percent of these deaths could be prevented with
a fully integrated health, hygiene, and nutrition strategy!
Source: UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

» O n e o f t he eight United N ations Millennium Development Goals is to

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 ensure environmental sustainability, and specifically to reduce by half the proportion
of people without access to safe drinking water. The World Health Organization
(WHO) outlines that its work on water and sanitation contributes to the Millennium
Development Goals in the following ways: health through safe drinking water and
basic sanitation, health through integrated water resources management, and health
through improved water in healthcare settings.
Source: UNICEF: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

» La c k o f c lean water causes millions of people in developing countries

to suffer needlessly and constantly from diseases such as diarrhea and parasitic
infections. This compromises the immune systems of entire communities, but has
the most impact on children younger than 5. Waterborne and water-related diseases
worsen the already debilitating effects of malnutrition, and seriously impede the
physical and mental development of these young children—sometimes permanently.
When opportunistic infections coincide with malnutrition and weakened immune
systems, the result is all too often tragic and needless death. Source: UNICEF: Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene

» T h e s e p r e ventable diseases also cost children an estimated

443 million school days a year. And because children (particularly girls) must spend
hours every day fetching water from a distant source, they are often unable to attend
school—even when they are healthy. Also, where a clean water source is unavailable
to a community, it is less likely that schools will be built there, or that properly trained
teachers will move to the community, even if a school and teacher’s quarters have been
provided to attract them. A lack of separate and locking sanitation facilities at schools
has a profound effect on the attendance of pubescent girls in particular, forcing them
to drop out due to shame or fear for their safety. Without the opportunity to pursue
higher education, these girls are frequently consigned to a life of poverty, and give birth
to children themselves doomed to be trapped in the cycle of poverty. Source: UNICEF:
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

» Gi r l s a n d women are the “water haulers” of the developing world.

On average, women and girls in developing countries walk nearly four miles a day,
carrying five gallons of water, to supply the family needs for water for drinking,
cooking, washing, irrigating crops, and watering livestock. This enormous task
greatly reduces the time available for other productive work such as household tasks,
gardening, or engaging in income-generating activities. The time taken to
collect water has a significant negative impact on girls’ education—girls may miss
classes or arrive at school exhausted because they have already spent hours walking to
collect water for their family’s daily needs. Source: UNICEF: Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene

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Reflect
In c l u d e d i n t h is discussion guide is a Personal Water Use chart detailing the
number of gallons of water used for typical daily activities, such as taking a shower or
washing dishes. Have each person fill out the chart based on their individual water use. As a
group, how much water are you using every day? How much of that amount do you think is
wasteful?

A l s o i n c l u d e d is a chart detailing domestic water use by country. Compare daily

domestic water use around the world. How would you explain the differences?

Ho w h av e y o u r thoughts about water and water use changed after watching

the film and completing the water chart activity?

Recall
Z a l i fa’ s v i l l a g e has no access to safe water. Three times a day she and her
brothers and sisters go to a well for water that is not even safe to drink. This responsibility
can take hours every day. Recall from the video the impact that this lack of safe water has on
children specifically.

W i t h i n t h e fa m ily, the responsibility of gathering water usually falls on women.

How does this responsibility impact their daily lives and their ability to contribute to the
community? How does access to clean water through a new well empower women to be
agents of change in their community?

A h a n d - d u g , o p en well is not a safe option because contaminants can fall in and

make the water unsafe to drink. With the help of World Vision, Abida’s community was
eventually able to build a deep well that provided safe, clean water. Who funded this project,
who provided the expertise, and who provided the labor? How is the well managed and
maintained?

W i t h t h e h e l p of World Vision, what agricultural, health, and educational

improvements have been made possible in Abida’s community since the newest well was
built? What plans does the community have for future development?

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Respond
Ho w c a n y o u a s an individual and as a group decrease the amount of water
you use on a daily basis? How might your decision to consume less help others and the
environment?

Ga i n i n g k n o w l edge about global citi zenship and good stewardship of our

resources is a powerful means to effect change. What could you do to increase and share your
knowledge about issues that impact people around the world?

Y o u s aw i n t h e video how a well not only brings clean water to a community but
also starts a chain reaction of improvements in all areas of life. What first step could you take
in your community or another community to bring about positive change and meet the needs of
the poor and disadvantaged?

Reach Out
Consider making a difference in the following ways:

» Pr ay f o r children and families living in regions without access to clean

water, specifically remembering those who are suffering from diseases related to unsafe
water.

» S p o n s o r a child through World V ision. For just about a dollar a day,

you’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics such as clean water,
improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts will help make a world
of difference for one child and his or her community as they continue development
efforts. You may also choose to sponsor a HopeChild in an AIDS-affected nation. For
sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com.

» B e c o m e a n advocate. Sign petitions and participate in events to encourage

your legislators and communities to prioritize the provision of access to clean water for
children. www.worldvisionresources.com and click on ‘programs and events.”

» B e c o m e e ducated about clean water issues and the United Nations

Millennium Development Goals by visiting www.unicef.org and www.who.int/en.

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» Do n at e i tems from the W orld V ision Gift C atalog to help
communities with development projects that will benefit their children for generations
to come. Gifts include items such as wells, contributions to water and sanitation funds,
trees, goats, mother and child health care, small business loans, school fees, even
bicycles to help children get to school. www.worldvisionresources.com and click on
‘programs and events”.

Resolve
» J e s u s a n s wered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but
whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will
become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:13-14

»

“ I h av e c ome that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
—John 10:10

» T h i s i s t h e confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything

according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we
ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. —1 John 5:14-15

» O u r d e s i r e is not that others might be relieved while you are hard

pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply
what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will
be equality… —2 Corinthians 8:13-14

» Ea c h o f y ou must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your
God has blessed you. —Deuteronomy 16:17

Rely
Pray that:

» Fu n d i n g and other resources necessary to complete clean water projects

will be readily available. Pray also that communities will find ways to ensure their
water supply is well maintained and managed.

» Go d w i l l continue using community leaders to educate people about

safe water, health, hygiene, and sanitation in order to minimize disease caused by
unsafe water.

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» Go v e r n m ent leaders, humanitarian organizations, and policymakers will be
strengthened in their efforts to improve access to clean water around the globe.

» W e w i l l b e conscious of how we use natural resources (including water)

as well as our material resources so that our actions benefit each other and the
environment.

The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other
cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to
reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we
are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an
error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within,
please contact World Vision Resources.

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Copyright © 2010 by World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA
98063-9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.
[Handout 1]

Personal Water Use Chart

Activity A. B. C. D. E.
Average Estimated Total Daily Class Ranking of
Number Amount of Water Use Estimates of Water Use
of Times Water Used Daily Water Activities
Activity Is Use (from
Done Per Column C)
Day

Taking a 10-minute 50 gallons

shower (19/minute)
(standard shower head)

Taking a 10-minute 23 gallons

shower (9/minute)
(low-flow shower head)

Taking a bath 39 gallons

Brushing teeth 2 gallons

(water running)

Flushing the toilet 3 gallons

(standard-flow toilet)

Flushing the toilet 1.9 gallons

(low-flow toilet)

Washing dishes by hand 10 gallons

Running a dishwasher 12 gallons

Doing a load of laundry 31 gallons

Watering the lawn 300 gallons

Washing a car 50 gallons

= =
TOTAL Daily Water Use by Household Member

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Source: Water Partners International

Handout 1: Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2010 World Vision Resources

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 About World Vision
W o r l d V i s i o n is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated
to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide
to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and
injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves
alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s
unconditional love for all people.

We envision a world where each child experiences “fullness of life”

as described in John 10:10. We know this can be achieved only by
addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way.
World Vision is unique in bringing 60 years of experience in three key
areas to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term
development, and advocacy. We bring our skills across many areas of
expertise to each community where we work, enabling us to support
children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

About World Vision Resources

E n d i n g g l o b a l poverty and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on
human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.

World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision.

World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty,
inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources
to make a difference in the world.

For more information about our

resources, contact:
World Vision Resources
Mail Stop 321
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
Fax: 253-815-3340
wvresources@worldvision.org

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