Why Clean Water
Safe drinking water is the first step to better health, education, and economic freedom
Health Outcomes
Almost one million people die each year from water-related illnesses caused by drinking contaminated water. Half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from waterborne diseases.
Education
443 million school days are missed each year due to a lack of clean water. Young girls, in particular, are burdened with missing out on educational opportunities to haul water for their families. Close access to clean water means kids can spend time going to school and playing instead.
Women and Girls
On average, women and girls spend 200 million hours every day collecting water, which is often unsafe to drink. Time wasted hauling water disproportionately affects women and girls, preventing them from getting an education, better jobs, and contributing fully to the growth of their communities.
Economic Growth
Every $1 invested in clean water and sanitation yields $4 in economic returns.
See Our Impact in Action
Community fundraising
Water access education
Origami workshops
Youth leadership
Global impact
Upcoming Events
Attend or volunteer at an event and be part of our world-changing mission
Freedom to Play — Annual Event 2026
Cookies, Cocoa & Christmas Gifts 2026
Choose Your Way to Help
Whether you give, shop, volunteer, or advocate—every action brings clean water to those who need it most.
We've Grown Over the Years
Started by Two Sisters Who Believed Kids Can Change the World
In 2011, at the ages of 5 and 8, Katherine and Isabelle Adams learned that a child died every 15 seconds from unclean water and that millions of girls just like them spent their day hauling water instead of attending school. They were just kids, but they decided to do something about it.
Using their love of origami, they began folding paper ornaments to raise money. What started as a goal to fund one well in Ethiopia quickly grew into a volunteer-driven grassroots movement that became the non-profit organization Paper for Water.
Today, Paper for Water provides clean water and sanitation to over 156,000 people daily.