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Lighten the load

water pump graphicObjective: To reflect on the issue of access to water and to inspire participation in the CROP Hunger Walk as a walk in solidarity with the many in this world who walk for water.

Materials needed:
  • A poll, string and two pails or buckets with handles – hang the buckets from the pole to make a yoke to carry. Or…
  • A large container of water and rope to tie the water to your back or to balance on your head. Or…
  • One large bucket of water and 5 smaller pails of water.
Instructions: Before the presentation, select 5 people from the audience to be helpers. Assign each person one of the water facts in the box below and give them instructions.

Leader: Hello. As you may know, the CROP Hunger Walk theme is “We Walk because They Walk.” It is a walk in solidarity with the many in this world who each day must walk miles in search of food, firewood, work, to go to school or to a health clinic. Right now, we’d like to take a moment to think about those who walk miles every day to fetch water. (At this point, Leader motions towards a person carrying the yoke or the water jug as he/she begins a slow walk from the back of the room towards the front.)

First Helper stands and reads 1st fact. After reading to the group, he/she joins the water carrier and lends a hand, either by supporting the weight of the pails, or by allowing the person carrying the large bucket of water to pour some into his/her smaller pail.

Repeat/Continue with Helpers two, three and four - all the while working your way toward the front. End at the front with the fifth Helper reading the 5th Fact and then joining the group.


1st Fact:  5 hours – the amount of time women and girls often spend collecting water each day from distant, often polluted sources.

2nd Fact:  3.7 miles is the average distance a woman walks to get water for her family.

3rd Fact:  44 lbs – The average weight of the water carried by a woman in Asia or Africa.

4th Fact:  80% of all sickness in the developing world is attributable to unsafe water and sanitation. Contaminated water kills 2.2 million people per year – nearly half of those are children.

5th Fact:  CROP Hunger Walkers help dig wells, purify water, develop irrigation systems and more. Last year, _____(#) walkers in ________(city) raised $__________  to help lighten the load of those in this world who walk for water and to survive.  Please join us on ________(date) for the 2007 CROP Hunger Walk. Thank you

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