On World Water Day 2026 (22 March), Save the Children highlights not only the journey of bringing clean water to schools, but also a broader message: protecting children’s rights, dignity, health, and opportunities to learn.
According to UNICEF, women and children around the world spend up to 200 million hours every day collecting water. In many parts of Africa and South Asia, young children walk for four to six hours a day along difficult and unsafe routes just to bring home containers of water. Each journey comes at a cost: time away from learning, risks to health, and even threats to personal safety.
Without clean water, children are more vulnerable to infectious diseases such as diarrhea and intestinal infections - among the leading causes of death among young children, despite being entirely preventable. When access to water becomes a daily burden, education can quickly become a luxury.
For girls in particular, the issue is closely linked to gender inequality. When toilets are unsafe, lack clean water, or do not provide privacy, girls may feel embarrassed, anxious, and more likely to miss school, especially during puberty. Small interruptions, when repeated over time, can become major barriers that hold girls back in their learning and development.
Photo: Save the Children works with local partners to implement projects that improve clean water and sanitation facilities in schools in Lao Cai.
Clean Water: A Basic Right and a Foundation for Equality
Access to clean water is not only an essential need; it is a fundamental human right. In education settings, this right becomes even more important, as children spend much of their day at school.
In Viet Nam, significant progress has been made in recent years to improve clean water and sanitation in schools. However, challenges remain in mountainous, remote, and hard-to-reach areas, as well as in communities affected by climate change impacts such as drought and saltwater intrusion.
Many schools still rely on untreated water sources or deteriorating sanitation facilities. This affects not only children’s health, but also their confidence, well-being, and learning outcomes.
Research by Save the Children shows that when schools are equipped with clean water systems, safe toilets, and adequate handwashing stations, students’ hygiene practices improve significantly. More students practice proper hygiene, feel more confident, and are able to learn in better conditions.
More importantly, clean water and sanitation in schools are not just about infrastructure. They provide a foundation for advancing gender equality, protecting children’s rights, and creating safe, inclusive learning environments for all.
Photo: Mr. Nguyen Hai Dang, Climate Resilience Technical Advisor at Save the Children, emphasizes the importance of clean water for children.
Mr. Nguyen Hai Dang, Climate Resilience Technical Advisor at Save the Children, shared that students, teachers, and communities all play an important role in ensuring that clean water and sanitation facilities in schools operate effectively and sustainably.
Students are not only beneficiaries; they can also become “ambassadors” who promote positive behaviours. Through school clubs and communication activities, children actively share knowledge, practice proper handwashing, and help keep their school environment clean. Teachers help guide and sustain good habits, while parents and communities contribute to monitoring and maintaining facilities. When all stakeholders are involved, clean water is not only made available, but is also used properly and maintained over time.
“As part of Save the Children’s projects on green schools and safe schools, students have developed many initiatives to share knowledge and change behaviours around school hygiene, proper handwashing, clean toilets, and a clean school environment. They also actively participate in monitoring the use of clean water and sanitation facilities in schools, while promoting new and positive practices. This helps children take on a more active role, practice leadership skills, and further strengthen their voice and participation in school life,” he said.
Photo: Clean water and safe sanitation are every child’s right.
Three Priorities for a More Equal Future
To close the gap in access to clean water and sanitation, while advancing gender equality, Save the Children’s expert highlights three urgent priorities.
First, greater investment is needed in clean water and sanitation facilities that are safe and child-friendly, with the participation of multiple stakeholders, especially the private sector.
Second, gender considerations must be integrated into the design and operation of facilities. Children’s voices should be listened to so that solutions respond to their real needs.
Third, education and communication for behaviour change should be strengthened, not only on personal hygiene, but also on reproductive health, particularly for adolescent girls.
“Clean water and safe sanitation in schools are essential foundations for children’s health, development, and learning opportunities. Through Save the Children’s practical models in Lao Cai, Ca Mau, and Quang Tri, we have contributed to improving children’s access to clean water and sanitation, while also supporting better hygiene practices among students. We believe that when school water and sanitation systems are improved, children, especially girls, are better able to learn, grow, and thrive.
On World Water Day 2026, my colleagues and I at Save the Children hope that every child, wherever they are, can go to school with confidence and safety, supported by access to clean water and appropriate sanitation facilities. Clean water and safe sanitation are every child’s right. Investing in clean water and environmental sanitation is an important solution to promote gender equality and ensure a healthy, sustainable, and climate-resilient future for children in Viet Nam,” Mr. Dang said.
In Lao Cai province, where most students are from ethnic minority communities, Save the Children has worked closely with local partners for many years to improve clean water and sanitation in schools. According to the 2025 project report, project activities supported approximately 33,952 children, including 18,006 girls, with around 78% of the children supported belonging to ethnic minority groups. These efforts have helped children gain better access to clean water and sanitation facilities at school.
In project schools, as clean water systems, toilets, and handwashing stations have been upgraded, students’ hygiene practices have improved significantly. The 2024–2025 WASH survey showed that the proportion of students practising proper hygiene increased from 32% in 2022 to 62.9%.
Source: Vietnam Agriculture News
