Friend –

Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water accessibility in the world, and water scarcity is already a major problem around the country. Now, with more than 650,000 Syrian refugees there, the increasing population has placed even more demand on the water system.

Every last drop counts when resources are limited. And unfortunately, more than 40 percent of Jordan's water is lost through preventable leakages. With water supplies dwindling, plumbing – a skill that is often undervalued – has become essential for preserving public health and sanitation.

That's where your support plays a crucial role. Oxfam launched the Addressing the Water Needs of Jordan Hosting Communities (AWANE) program, and we prioritized training plumbers, particularly women, who are primarily responsible for managing water use at the household level.

Friend, we've trained more than 400 women with basic plumbing skills to fix leakages in their homes, increase community awareness, and enter the labor market.

Read more about what members of the Oxfam community like you are making possible for women in Jordan and around the world.

Take Mariam Tawfeeq Matlaq's story. Mariam picked up her first wrench five years ago, and went into business shortly thereafter. "As soon as I received the [Oxfam AWANE] training to be a plumber, I had a dream to open a shop," she says. "There are other areas where the community accepts women plumbers more, but I chose to open my shop here [in Amman, Jordan]."

It wasn't easy for Mariam to establish herself in a male-dominated industry. "There are negative perceptions of a woman plumbing in my community," she explains. "The competition between me and the male plumbers can be difficult."

Mariam has trained many other women in Amman and recommends them for jobs when she can. "Women here want to work," she says. "We want opportunities, but often there aren't any for us. We need support from organizations to keep growing these opportunities for women."

Friend, we're proud the Oxfam community has stepped up to support women in Jordan and throughout the world. Together, we're helping communities like Mariam's address water scarcity today and create opportunities for women in the labor market for years to come.

Want to contribute to the kind of work that tackles the root causes of poverty, hunger, and injustice – and changes lives in more than 90 countries? Our work is only possible because of the support of people like you. Make a donation today.