Imagine walking miles every day, for hours under the relentless sun, with an empty pitcher in hand. Your destination? A distant, shared water collection point, where hundreds of women and children, just like you, wait for hours to fill their containers with water from the only source of drinkable water in the vicinity. For the climate-vulnerable families of Bangladesh's coastal regions, this is not a scenario—it is their reality.

In Khulna, a region surrounded by rivers, the irony is heartbreaking and inescapable- water is everywhere, but none of it is drinkable. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change, have led to saline intrusion, leaving safe drinking water scarce and precious for 1.5 million people in the southwestern coastal districts. Women of the family are often burdened with collection of drinking water from far for their families. 

Mitu’s family is one of them. “I have to walk for one and a half hours everyday, sometimes twice a day, to collect water for my family.” Hundreds of women like Mitu endure this daily ordeal while their journeys grow longer as freshwater sources dry up or become unusable. Even children are sometimes tasked with this back-breaking labor, instead of attending school.

But there is hope- and that hope lies with the youth of Bangladesh

UNDP Bangladesh has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support youth-led, community-based initiatives to bring solution to the water crisis in the climate vulnerable regions. These young changemakers are stepping up to install and help households maintain rainwater harvesting system, water filtration units for communities and shared water points in the hardest-hit areas. 

Youth volunteers like 22-year-old Sumaiya Akhter are bringing innovative solutions to the water crisis. “I grew up watching my mother walk miles to fetch water,” she says. “I grew up thinking about ways to end this hardship. Now I work with other volunteers like me to install and maintain rainwater harvesting system at households.”

Sumaiya and her peers are transforming the narrative, one community at a time. With your support, their impact can grow exponentially.

How You Can Help

Your donation to this campaign doesn’t just provide safe water; it empowers the youth to become leaders in their communities. It equips them with the tools, resources, and training needed to implement sustainable water solutions. And the impact is profound.

“Before the water filtration system was installed, we had to use dirty water from nearby ponds, which made my children sick.” shares Halima Akter, a mother of three. “Now, I can use the fresh water from this water point.”

The benefits extend far beyond immediate access to safe water. These initiatives are promoting climate resilient practices, reducing waterborne illnesses, and allowing children of these vulnerable families attend school and women to pursue income-generating activities.

Every dollar donation will go directly to fund youth-led community-based initiatives 

By using credible platforms and clear accountability mechanisms, this campaign will create an environment where donors can be confident that their contributions are making a real impact.  This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. Whether you’re a Bangladeshi living abroad, a private business looking to make a social impact, or an individual passionate about empowering youth, your donation can make a lasting difference. 

Just $10 can provide safe water to at least 100 people in the community. Every dollar raised will directly fund community-driven water initiatives led by the youth volunteers.

A Brighter Future Starts with You 

Water is life, and the people of Khulna and other climate vulnerable regions in Bangladesh need your help to access safe water. Together, we can ensure that no child has to drink unhealthy water, no mother has to sacrifice her health for her family’s survival, and no community has to live without hope battling against climate change.

When you donate, you become part of a movement to turn the tide for Bangladesh’s coastal communities. You become a lifeline for families who have endured the unthinkable, and a partner to the young volunteers who are working tirelessly to bring hope where despair once reigned.

The youth of Bangladesh have already shown their potential to drive meaningful change. Now, it’s our turn to support them. Your donation is not just a gift; it’s an investment in resilience, in dignity, and in the boundless potential of Bangladesh’s youth. Let’s build a future where every drop of water brings life, and every life is given a chance to thrive.