Clean Water
Access to clean water does more than protect a child’s health. It removes the constant fear of chronic illness and parasites, opening a clear path for students to learn and for families to thrive without the drain of preventable crises. By installing water filtration systems and providing hygiene education, COV builds mind and body wellness from the ground up for entire communities.
For thousands of children in Vietnam's highland and remote communities, safe drinking water remains out of reach. Reliance on contaminated water sources leads to recurrent illness, acquisition of parasites and missed school days-creating obstacles to learning that begins long before a student reaches a classroom door.
By the numbers
Nearly 1 in 3 households in Vietnam's highland areas lack access to safe drinking water.
Waterborne diseases and parasites are a leading cause of school absenteeism in remote communities.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the long-term developmental impacts of recurrent diarrheal diseases.
Program
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program installs sustainable water filtration systems and wells directly where children live and learn. We don't just provide the systems -we partner with schools and villages to ensure long-term maintenance of the equipment and educate communities about good hygiene practices. Clean water means healthier children, more consistent classroom attendance, and mothers freed from the fear of child illnesses and potential death.
● Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Building Healthier Lives with Safe Water
We take a comprehensive approach to water security, installing durable filtration systems and drilling new wells at preschools, elementary schools, and community centers. Our work includes thorough evaluation of existing systems and training for local staff, ensuring solutions are sustainable. By providing this most basic resource, we remove a fundamental barrier to health and learning, allowing children to grow and communities to thrive.
Our almost 30-year legacy of impact
480 water filtration systems have been installed in schools and villages since our founding.
19,811 children in remote areas have received constant access to clean water.
FY 2025 // Impact Focus
53 water filtration systems were installed-more than double in the previous year.
4 new wells were drilled to access clean groundwater.
16,471 children, across 52 schools and centers, gained reliable clean water access.
1,517 teachers and staff also benefited, creating healthier learning environments.
11 systems were evaluated after 3+ years of operation and all were found to be functioning effectively.
A Drop of Change: Safe Water at Trieu An Elementary
When Trieu An Elementary School in Quang Tri received a new water filtration system, it changed more than the water source-it changed the children's daily reality. For students like Dat, a lively fourth grader, it meant safety and peace of mind.
"I trust the water here. It's clean, and I feel at ease."
- Đạt, 4th Grade Student
Now, children drink freely without risk, stay healthier, and can focus fully on their education-proving that clean water is the essential first step toward unlocking potential.
Lift a child out of poverty.
Today.
Explore More Programs
Children with Disabilities • Education • Keeping Children Fed • Empowering Mothers • Clean Water