Changing lives in Asia

For more than 630 million people in South Asia, clean water has been pushed out of reach. Pollution, industry, and population growth has contaminated the water running through the region's vast rivers.

We put clean water back within reach. We dig wells, protect natural springs, and build rainwater systems in schools, so children can drink and wash their hands in safe water during the day.

Once we've set up the basics, we work with the communities on water management, so they can keep their water supply safe.

When safe water is a reality, healthy communities and healthy children can grow.

Learn more about our Clean Water work.

When it comes to primary school, Asia is a success story, in fact 9 out of 10 children are enrolled. But once primary school finishes, it’s a different picture - many girls stop going.

This puts them at a much higher risk of sex trafficking, child labour, and child marriage. Quite simply, girls are being exploited across Asia because they are not getting an education.

So we're doing all that we can to get more girls in school. We’re working to pull down barriers that stop girls being in the classroom. We’re helping to provide quality education, for both boys and girls, so that they can have safe futures. We're also working to help people with disabilities get further education, and ensuring mums and dads know how important education is for their children. 

Learn more about our Education work.

Two thirds of the population in Asia don't have enough food to live on, with more than 280 million undernourished people.

We know when children aren't getting the food they need to grow up physically and mentally strong, it's harder to fight off and recover from sickness, and to explore the world around them.

So we deliver food to the most vulnerable communities that urgently need it. We also address the problem at its root cause, and set up sustainable farming practices – not just for long-term food supply, but for produce to sell at markets too.

Learn more about our work with Nutritious Food.

A third of the world's poorest people live in South Asia, where the gulf between the rich and poor is growing ever wider, and the population of the urban poor is rising.

Asia has urbanised, creating densely populated, sprawling cities. While it has allowed people to move to cities, find jobs, and be close to health and social services, it has also resulted in poor living conditions.

We work with communities to make sure children have access to food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and schooling by helping their families earn money, through skills training and micro-finance.

Learn more about our Family Income work.