The Sahel region is one of the harshest places on earth to live.

We don’t spend too much time thinking about water -- it’s everywhere we go. When we’re thirsty, we flip a handle or push a button. When we’re dirty, we twist a shower knob. When our garden needs watering, when our pasta needs to be boiled, when we use the bathroom -- water is just an arm's length away.

But, in many developing countries, women and children walk for hours, up and down mountains, just to collect water that can make them really sick.

The Sahel is a narrow strip of land in Africa just below the Sahara Desert. This area is frequently affected by drought and famine, and access to clean water is rare. However, if there’s one thing the Sahel isn’t short on, it’s sunshine. A typical afternoon packs 110º heat, and charity: water's local partners are taking advantage of this desert climate. In addition to drilling wells, they’re building solar-powered systems that draw cool, clean water from deep underground and bring it to tap stands in the center of communities.

The first step out of poverty begins with clean water. Clean water sparks a positive chain reaction that improves every aspect of life. Women and girls have hours of extra time to care for their families, earn income and relax. Community members spend less money on hospital bills and more time at work or in school.

100% of everything we raise will directly fund water projects. And when those projects are finished, charity: water will send us proof in pictures and GPS coordinates, so we can see the actual people and communities we impacted.