Op-ed by Kalkidan Aberra
Advocacy Advisor
As Africa marks the Day of the African Child on June 16, we rightly celebrate the courage of the students of Soweto, who in 1976 stood up for their right to quality education. Fifty years later, their call resonates with the quest of many children in Africa. Today, millions of African children are still denied the conditions necessary to learn, thrive, and realize their full potential, not because they lack ambition, but because they lack something far more basic: access to clean water, safe sanitation, and proper hygiene facilities.
Why WASH is a child rights issue
A child who spends hours collecting water instead of attending class is being denied an education. This is not a story of the past; it remains the daily reality for millions of children across Africa. A girl who misses school because there is no safe and private space to manage her menstruation is being denied opportunity and dignity. In a century defined by technological advancement and unprecedented global progress, it is unacceptable that such fundamental rights remain out of reach for so many children. A child who repeatedly falls ill from unsafe water is being denied not only a healthy childhood, but also a fair chance at the future. This is why access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) must be viewed not only as a development priority, but as a fundamental child rights issue.
According to UNICEF, across the African continent, far too many children still begin each day searching for water rather than preparing for school. In rural communities and informal urban settlements, children, particularly girls, often walk long distances to collect water, sacrificing valuable learning time and exposing themselves to risks along the way. In schools without adequate sanitation facilities, children face daily challenges that undermine both their wellbeing and their education. The consequences extend far beyond childhood. Poor access to WASH contributes to preventable disease, malnutrition, school absenteeism, and reduced learning outcomes. It reinforces cycles of poverty and inequality that can persist across generations.
The situation in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has made commendable progress in expanding access to clean water and improved sanitation. As per an assessment conducted by the National Information Platforms in Nutrition, significant gaps remain, especially in rural communities, where nearly 60% of the population face barriers to reliable and safe WASH services. At the same time, climate change is intensifying water scarcity, while rapid population growth is placing increasing pressure on existing infrastructure. For children growing up in these circumstances, the impact is immediate and lasting. Their health is at risk, their education is disrupted, and their overall wellbeing is compromised. This, therefore, is not merely about providing services. It is about creating conditions for children to survive, learn, participate, and succeed.
How SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is responding
At SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia, we advance children's rights through programmes focused on quality care, child protection, family and community strengthening, education, youth empowerment, health, and humanitarian response. Experience from these programmes demonstrates that access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is fundamental to achieving positive outcomes for children. To help realize this right, we support improvements in sanitation infrastructure within households, schools, and childcare facilities. Through family and community strengthening programmes, underserved families receive support to improve living conditions, including access to safe and hygienic sanitation facilities, alongside awareness training that promotes healthy hygiene practices and disease prevention.
We also work with partner schools, particularly in areas affected by water shortages, to improve access to water and sanitation facilities. Water storage systems and improved bathroom facilities help create safer and more conducive learning environments, ensuring that access to water does not become a barrier to education.
Recognizing that access to education is closely linked to dignity, particularly for adolescent girls, we support the establishment of Menstrual Hygiene Management rooms in schools. These dedicated spaces provide privacy, sanitation facilities, handwashing stations, changing areas, and rest spaces, helping girls manage menstruation safely and confidently while remaining engaged in their education. Beyond infrastructure, we promote hygiene education and create opportunities for open dialogue on topics that are often considered taboo, including menstrual health. Through awareness sessions, life-skills training, and support with sanitary materials, children, caregivers, and communities are empowered to adopt healthier practices and challenge harmful stigmas.
A call to action
These experiences reinforce an important truth: sustainable progress for children cannot be achieved through isolated interventions. Lasting impact comes from community-driven, child-centered approaches that recognize the interconnected nature of children's rights. Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is not separate from education, health, and protection; it is fundamental to all of them. As we commemorate the Day of the African Child, this should serve as a call to action.
Governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector must commit to prioritizing water, sanitation, and hygiene as a cornerstone of child development. This means investing in infrastructure that reaches the most marginalized communities, promoting inclusive policies that leave no child behind regardless of location or circumstance, and ensuring that schools are equipped with safe water and gender-responsive sanitation facilities that allow all children, especially girls, to learn with dignity. As we mark this important day, let us remember that every drop of clean water, every safe toilet, and every act of hygiene is a step toward justice for Africa's children.