Jay Reeve: Clean, safe water for children

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: 1,000 water purification tablets!

We’re counting down to Christmas with the 12 Days of UNICEF where UNICEF ambassadors and champions post daily blog entries about the difference UNICEF Inspired Gifts are making in the lives of many children around the world.

It’s crazy that over 884 million people in the world have to use unsafe drinking water sources. Thousands of children fall sick or die due to a lack of safe water, sanitation services, and poor hygiene practices.

The worst part of this is that children’s education is affected because schools lack decent sanitation facilities. The women in these areas are forced to spend most of their day fetching water, health systems are overwhelmed and the National economies suffer. Without water, sanitation and hygiene, sustainable development just isn’t possible.

UNICEF is working in more than 90 countries around the world to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities, promoting safe hygiene practices in schools and communities. Together, we can help people gain access to safe water and basic sanitation. For $12, you can buy 1,000 water purification tablets – 5,000 litres of clean water. Help these children become the agents of change in their families and communities.

Jay Reeve, MTV host and UNICEF Ambassador

*Photo credit: Jeremy Toth