b'The burden of collecting water and firewood disproportionately falls on women and children. They often sacrifice their income generating activities and education to walk many miles each day. The chore of collecting water and wood from remote places can be dangerous, particularly for women, exposing them to gender based violence.Many rural families have no choice but to depend on water from unsafe sources such as ponds and streams, filled with bacteria and environmental contaminants. Once water is collected, it is often consumed without treatment, which can cause severe illness. Half of Togos population doesnt have access to improved water sources.In 2022, we partnered with Co2Balance to bring safe water to vulnerable, rural communities, many of whom have not had safe water to drink within their communities. Over the next 18 months, we are committed to rehabilitating 520 water boreholes. Each one will provide enough safe water for approximately 60 households, bringing clean water to over 150,000.Safe water is central in the fight against poverty, and to build resilience against climate change. Placing a safe and reliable water source in the heart of the community removes the need to boil water for purification. It significantly lessens the pressure on the forests by reducing the need for firewood, whilst also reducing carbon emissions and the time spent collecting water and fuel.The provision of safe water lowers cases of illnesses caused by waterborne diseases and gives households more time to spend on income-generating activities and allows children more time to spend on their education.Because women are the most affected by the lack of clean, safe water in their communities, it is important they take the responsibility of caring for their own water source.As part of the safe water project, we have created over 100 Mother Clubs with over 1,000 members, who take part in WASH training workshops which teaches them about hygiene and sanitation. It is their responsibility to share this knowledge with other members of their community.'