Safe Water for Displaced Kids in Northern, Nigeria

Free Ortese’s Women and Girls from Unsafe Water Journeys

In Ortese, Guma LGA, the daily search for water is a burden that falls almost entirely on women and girls. Every day, they walk long distances—often alone or in small groups—to reach streams that are not only far from home but also contaminated. This simple necessity comes at an enormous cost: exposure to waterborne diseases, the constant threat of gender-based violence along isolated routes, and lost hours that could have been spent in school or earning a livelihood.

The statistics are sobering. UNICEF reports that 86% of Nigerians lack access to safely managed drinking water. In Benue’s IDP camps, 76% of households still struggle just to get enough water for their daily needs. For girls, the impact is especially severe: many spend hours every day fetching water, robbing them of time and energy to pursue their education and dreams.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Your support can transform the lives of women and girls in Ortese. By funding the installation of boreholes and filtration systems close to homes, you ensure that clean, safe water is always within reach. We will also establish handwashing stations and train women-led water committees to maintain these vital resources—giving women the leadership role they deserve and ensuring sustainability.

This project will not only reduce the risk of disease but also restore dignity and personal safety. Most importantly, it will free girls from the cycle of water collection, giving them the chance to attend school, learn, and grow.

Clean water near home changes everything. Will you help Ortese’s women and girls reclaim their time, safety, and futures by funding a water system this month?