IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The Water for Schools Campaign aims to bring together a network of organizations and partners that deliver safe water and sanitation to schools and assist in bringing basic water and hygiene education to teachers. Its target is to provide all schools with safe drinking water by 2015 as part of helping reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The promotion of safe water supply and basic hygiene in schools allows children to become the agents of change within their families and communities. Behaviour learnt at school on the critical importance of safe water, hygiene and conservation of freshwater ecosystems can lead to rapid improvements in health conditions and a reduction in school absenteeism. Providing water and sanitation services to schools is an important first step to engage children and communities in improving their water security and upholding their role as guardians of healthy and vital river ecosystems.

Initiated by the IUCN Water Programme, ‘Water for Schools’ primary aim will be to provide '1000 schools with water in 10 countries by 2008’. To kick-start the Water for Schools initiative, a number of schools in Ecuador, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Lesotho and Lao PDR are being put forward as tangible examples where work will be carried out. Through working with schools and strengthening the ‘Water for Schools’ network, practical experiences will be gained on delivery and scaling-up the approach to reach all schools by 2015.

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www.waterforschools.net