© 2002 CARE/ A John Watston

About half of the world's population — nearly 3 billion people — lives in poverty, on the equivalent of less than $2 a day. These people do not simply lack financial resources. They struggle each day to keep hunger and disease at bay. Basic opportunities to improve their lives are frequently beyond reach.

 The factors that keep people living in poverty are complex and interwoven. That's why CARE does much more than feed the hungry. We work alongside families and communities to understand the greatest threats to their survival and to help them find lasting solutions to their problems.

Through its Victories Over Poverty campaign, CARE is supporting integrated programs that include emergency relief, post-emergency rehabilitation and recovery, and long-term poverty-fighting projects. Whether it's teaching new farming techniques, training teachers or helping improve access to health care, CARE works with communities to create solutions that last.

Reducing Poverty: Proof is in the Numbers

Last year, CARE's programs directly improved the lives of more than 31 million people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Tens of millions more benefited indirectly from CARE projects that confronted poverty in their communities.

• Poverty is not having access to clean drinking water or adequate sanitation systems. Last year, CARE helped 3 million people in 34 countries gain access to clean water and sanitation, reducing time spent gathering water and illness caused by poor hygiene.
• Poverty is a lack of accessible, affordable health care information and services. In 2002, almost 10 million children in 26 countries benefited from CARE's child health projects, reducing their vulnerability to disease.
• Poverty is not being able to produce enough food to feed your family. Last year, CARE's programs helped train more than 1.5 million farmers in 43 countries in activities relating to agriculture and natural resource management, increasing crop yields while conserving the environment. --CARE

The factors that keep people living in poverty are complex and interwoven. That's why CARE does much more than feed the hungry. We work alongside families and communities to understand the greatest threats to their survival and to help them find lasting solutions to their problems.

Through our Victories Over Poverty campaign, CARE is supporting integrated programs that include emergency relief, post-emergency rehabilitation and recovery, and long-term poverty-fighting projects. Whether it's teaching new farming techniques, training teachers or helping improve access to health care, CARE works with communities to create solutions that last.

Reducing Poverty: Proof is in the Numbers

Last year, CARE's programs directly improved the lives of more than 31 million people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Tens of millions more benefited indirectly from CARE projects that confronted poverty in their communities.

• Poverty is not having access to clean drinking water or adequate sanitation systems. Last year, CARE helped 3 million people in 34 countries gain access to clean water and sanitation, reducing time spent gathering water and illness caused by poor hygiene.
• Poverty is a lack of accessible, affordable health care information and services. In 2002, almost 10 million children in 26 countries benefited from CARE's child health projects, reducing their vulnerability to disease.
• Poverty is not being able to produce enough food to feed your family. Last year, CARE's programs helped train more than 1.5 million farmers in 43 countries in activities relating to agriculture and natural resource management, increasing crop yields while conserving the environment. --CARE

Lack of sanitation requires that some women wait until dark to relieve themselves outside. Imagine the discomfort of a woman suffering from diarrhea who has to wait for hours.

Help CARE bring safe drinking water and sanitation to the rest of the world!  Donate here. 

I see a statuesque female form...a woman who is regal and august...athletic and sinewy...and she is carrying her family's daily water needs on her head! 

The least we can do is help people develop safe water supplies. It just takes a little bit from many people. Have you shared with someone who needs you a lot this month?   Donate to CARE here.

These people are waiting in line for safe drinking water in Indonesia.

What is your monthly budget for bottled water? You can make a difference by sharing that amount of money with people who have to stand in line.   Donate here.

 
Madagascar Photo by Birte Thorsen

We invite you to help supply safe, affordable, and sustainable supplies of drinking water in impoverished countries.  Donate here.

"We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation, and basic health care." -- Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General.

Download a PDF of Water Advocates' New York Times issue ad

We invite you to help supply safe, affordable, and sustainable supplies of drinking water in impoverished countries.  Donate here.