Overview: THE WORLD’S WATER CRISIS
Globally, more than 2.2 billion people are still using unsafe drinking water. This puts them at risk of waterborne diseases, which can be fatal, especially for children: according to UNICEF, 1,000 under-fives die every day from diseases caused by unsafe water or sanitation.
Safe water makes a huge difference. It reduces health risks, frees children to attend school, and enables people to care for their families and livestock. That’s why Salam Charity is committed to bringing water to more communities around the world.
In 2024, we installed 61 wells in countries including Pakistan, Uganda, and Bangladesh. In each location, we determine the most suitable well and invest in sustainable, locally managed systems to strengthen community resilience.
Our Objectives
- Bringing clean water to more people: We install wells to bring safe and reliable water to whole communities.
- Promoting better hygiene: We distribute hygiene kits and run awareness campaigns on handwashing and sanitation.
- Ending open defecation: We’re building toilets in refugee camps and elsewhere, adding ramps for accessibility.
- Building climate resilience: Climate change will make the situation worse. We’re installing solar-powered pumps to give communities a reliable source of water.
Key Facts
- 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water
- Nearly 50% of the world lacks access to safe sanitation
- 2 billion people have no handwashing facility with soap
- 419 million still practise open defecation
(Sources: WHO, UNICEF 2025)
IMPACT
Since 2022, Salam Charity has installed 216 water wells in some of the world’s most water-stressed areas, including Pakistan, Uganda, Ghana, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.
🛠️ 2024:
- Uganda
- 51 Deep Water Wells (15,300 beneficiaries)
- 7 Deep Wells with Hand Pumps (2,100 beneficiaries)
- 1 Solar-Powered Borehole (500 beneficiaries)
- Pakistan
- 11 Solar-Powered Boreholes (3,300 beneficiaries)
- Ghana
- 15 Deep Water Wells (4,500 beneficiaries)
- Bangladesh
- 3 Electric Boreholes (900 beneficiaries)
CASE STUDY
BUYUGU, UGANDA
In the village of Buyugu, women used to walk 3 hours every day for water. Their source was a muddy stream shared with animals. It was teeming with bacteria, which caused sickness and school dropouts.
In 2024, Salam Charity installed a deep water well just 200 metres from the village centre, serving over 300 families.
“The well saved my time and my children’s health. I now run a small food stall and my daughters go to school every day. We finally have our life back.” – Fatuma, mother of four
The well has not only improved hygiene but also unlocked time, education, and income.
CASE STUDY
Hygiene in Turkey & Syria
After the 2023 earthquakes, Salam Charity distributed 7,500 hygiene kits to families who had lost their homes. Each kit included soap, detergent, disinfectant, bin bags, and sanitiser. This initiative prevented disease outbreaks and offered dignity during the crisis.
“The hygiene kits saved our dignity. In disaster, it’s the little things that restore humanity.”
— Rana, Syria earthquake survivor
Each well serves up to 1,000 people and is built to last a minimum of 20 years. Here are our average costs by location and type:
| Country | Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | Deep Water Well | £1,200 |
| Ghana | Electric Mechanical Borehole | £4,000 |
| Uganda | Deep Water Well | £600 |
| Uganda | Deep Well with Hand Pump | £1,000 |
| Uganda | Solar Powered Borehole | £3,500 |
| Pakistan | Deep Water Well | £1,400 |
| Pakistan | Electric Powered Borehole | £2,000 |
| Pakistan | Solar Powered Borehole | £2,500 |
| Bangladesh | Deep Water Well | £1,400 |
In instances where a community possesses an old or disused well, our commitment extends to rehabilitation efforts, ensuring its restoration to serve local residents. Our dedicated local teams diligently identify vulnerable communities requiring assistance and deliver tailored support. Pricing for rehabilitation projects varies based on the unique characteristics of each well in question, reflecting our adaptable approach to revitalising crucial water sources.
