In Tajikistan, rural communities lack access to essential goods and services, which contributes to a high prevalence of childhood undernutrition, stunting, and other poor health issues. The USAID-funded Rural Water Supply (RWS) Activity partners with local governments, communities, and businesses to develop and improve safe drinking water infrastructure and services. Through the use of public-private partnerships, the Activity is establishing reliable, commercially viable drinking water services, while increasing the public’s engagement in oversight and accountability.

For the 2024 International Day of the Girl celebrations, 27 students in 9th and 10th grade attended and had the opportunity to discover more about this special day and how it relates to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). They also learned about drinking water supply networks and the work the RWS Activity has done to construct a water supply system in their village, giving them access to drinking water in their homes. The student participants shared that having this access to clean water freed up time for them to do homework and other fun activities because they would no longer have to collect rainwater or fetch water from the next village.

Lack of access to clean water disproportionately affects women and youth, and while all the children had previously been responsible for retrieving water, this task was typically undertaken more frequently by girls. Events such as this one help to develop a sense of stewardship for the facility and for their village while also offering the opportunity to reflect on the importance of GESI principles in their daily lives.

Learn more about the work the RWS Activity is doing to improve the health and resilience of rural communities and empower women and youth to become managers of safe water here.