Millions of women in Africa walk for an average of five hours a day simply to get enough water for their family’s drinking, cooking and cleaning needs. That’s five hours a day, every day. There’s no time off on your birthday or even Christmas Day.

After an Elephant pump is installed in a village, the women have both an abundance of water just a stroll away from their homestead. AND some spare time. Put them together and there’s the start of a profitable enterprise – growing fruit and veg to improve the diet of the local community, with surplus to sell at market

To highlight the work of Thirsty Planet’s partner, Pump Aid, we’re conducting a survey to see how we would cope if five hours were taken out of our days. Could you spare a few minutes to complete the questions below and return to us by 11 March 2009?

The results of this survey will be used as part of Thirsty Planet and Pump Aid’s media activity to promote World Water Day and to demonstrate how a sustainable, clean water supply is the key to breaking out of the poverty cycle. We would like to include some of the more thought-provoking comments this survey may throw up.

Thank you for your time. You are helping Pump Aid to help women in Africa reclaim time and get on the first step out of poverty.