Over 600 million people in India face severe water scarcity**. This urgent crisis demands immediate action. Despite being home to 17% of the global population, millions of rural households in India still struggle to access safe water**. Shockingly, 70% of the country’s water sources are contaminated with harmful bacteria and viruses, exposing communities to serious health risks such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, skeletal fluorosis, and malnutrition**.

In response to these challenges, GF is hosting the GF Walk for Water for the first time in Ratnagiri, India, on December 1, 2024. This event is part of a global initiative by the GF Water Foundation to fund safe water and sanitation projects in developing regions, as well as areas affected by natural disasters. During the walk, GF employees and donors will carry water to raise awareness and mobilize funds for communities without access to safe drinking water.