The Crisis
703 million people in the world – almost 1 in 10 – don’t have clean water close to home.
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity.
Find out more: wateraid.org.au
On the front cover: Amie, 9, and fellow students wash their hands at the new toilet block at their primary school in Central Province, Papua New Guinea, April 2024.
Over 1 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 2800 people a day, or one person every 30 seconds.
1.8 billion people worldwide still collect water away from their homes.
Credit: WaterAid/Tariq Hawari
This copy of Oasis was written and edited by Caity Hall. For feedback or article suggestions, please email info@wateraid.org.au
Stay informed at: wateraid.org.au
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WaterAid/Tariq Hawari
From our Chief Executive
As I read through this edition of Oasis, what really stands out to me is the power of water to create change.
We all need clean water. It is the foundation for good health and a life full of opportunity. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, clean water means people can break free from poverty and build the lives they want, with dignity. Babies are born healthier. Children grow up stronger. Women and girls spend less time collecting water and more time in work or school, building the lives they want. Adults get to earn a living. Whole communities thrive and are better prepared for whatever the future holds. It all starts with water.
But this change also starts with you. It is only through the support of people like you that we are able to work with communities to provide clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, and achieve the lasting impact you will read about in these pages.
It’s true we are facing many serious challenges –a changing climate, public health crises, gender inequality, and difficult environments and terrain. But the stories in these pages prove that we can overcome these hurdles with the help of our dedicated supporters.
I hope this edition of Oasis magazine inspires you, as it always inspires me. Thank you so much for being on this journey with us. Change really does start with you.
Tom Muller Chief Executive WaterAid Australia
WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
Josephine Zaka, 41, filling up a bucket of water at the community tap stand, Sylvia Masebo, Zambia.
WASHing out Cholera
Water should sustain life and foster good health – but once contaminated with water-borne diseases, it does quite the opposite.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water - and can be fatal within hours if not treated directly. It is rarely found in Australia, but remains a very real danger in countries where access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene is a challenge –including Zambia.
Zambia experiences regular cholera outbreaks, and in 2023 its latest outbreak spread to all ten of its provinces. By the time it was contained in mid-2024, there had been 23,000 cases reported and 730 deaths.
With the help of our supporters, WaterAid has been working in Zambia to prevent future cholera outbreaks using the best possible defense mechanisms - clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene.
Josephine is a mother of four from Sylvia Masebo village in Zambia. Many members of her community suffered during the latest cholera outbreak, including herself and all four of her children.
“Last year, the situation was bad. In my home almost everyone had diarrhoea. The only person who didn’t suffer was my husband. Myself and my children had diarrhoea”.
In the past, Sylvia Masebo’s entire population of 7,360 people relied on two hand pumps. Many community members were forced to dig their own shallow wells which were vulnerable to contamination from cholera and other water borne diseases.
Knowing that safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are the best defense against cholera, WaterAid got to work constructing and installing the hardware the community needed to protect itself. This included:
3 x 10,000 litre water storage tanks and tank stands
Water kiosks, including 10 tap stands with four inclusive taps each
A solar pump to draw water from the ground into the storage tanks.
But we know that hardware alone isn’t enough to create healthy communities long term. With the support of people like you, WaterAid were then able to train community members on how to look after the infrastructure so it could be a reliable water source well into the future, and conducted training on how to best stop the spread of germs and diseases like cholera.
WaterAid/ Cian Oba-Smith
WaterAid/ Cian Oba-Smith
For Josephine, having clean water readily available has led to better health for herself, her family, and her entire community.
On a bigger scale, WaterAid also been running a health education campaign across Zambia to increase knowledge on water-borne diseases like cholera and how they can help to prevent them. Illustrations, radio jingles and adverts, TV appearances, and media stories were all used to spread the word, bringing the entire country a step closer to becoming cholera-free through water, toilets and hygiene!
“There is a big difference now because the water we used to drink before was contaminated. Even if you treat it with chlorine… we would get sick of cholera, diarrhoea, stomach pains, including vomiting and many other diseases associated with unclean water. At times people would die if they delayed going to the clinic. If you are lucky you would be healed and come back alive from the clinic. But this water that has been brought by WaterAid is clean and safe for drinking and this has reduced the risk of diseases such as cholera. You see before we had clean water, cholera would start in October, but now we are in November and we have not had any case of cholera in this community.”
WaterAid/
Cian Oba-Smith
Imagine if collecting water for your family took one and a half hours per trip.
And now, imagine having to make that trip multiple times a day, up and down a steep mountain. This was a daily reality for the people of a village in Liquica, Timor-Leste, including Village Chief Frederico and his family. Not only were these journeys grueling on the body, but they also left very little time for community members to earn an income.
Now, with your support, we’ve worked with Frederico’s community to install a gravity fed water system with taps spread throughout the village, so everyone has water close at hand. We’ve also supported the local water user group to oversee the maintenance of the system, so it can provide for the village for many years to come. With water close to home, community members have more time to study, earn a living, care for loved ones, and to enjoy life! With the help of his son Olivio, Frederico is raising livestock to be sold at the market, and with water close by and extra income, together they are building a new home for their expanding family.
"My life has changed a lot since the water system was installed. With water close by, my father and I were able to build our house, and now we can also raise animals to be sold at the market in Liquica for extra income” - Olivio, 29
WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
Laying the Foundations for Change
As newly laid pipes bring clean water to her community in Uganda, Harriet is paving the way for a life full of opportunity.
When clean water flows for the first time in Nambula, Buyende District, Uganda, it’s a special moment for Harriet and her family. Her children run with joy, each taking a glass from the house to drink from the newly installed tap.
In the past, Harriet and her children would walk long distances to get water, carrying heavy containers through mud and dirt. Her children would get ill after drinking water from ponds and rivers shared with cows, and Harriet would spend her savings on buying medicine.
But Harriet and her community have come together to build the base for a better life. Thanks to donations from WaterAid supporters, they’ve dug trenches and laid 7.4km of pipes to connect Nambula to the main water supply, working with engineers from our local partner organisation. In tota, 7,000 people now have clean water close to where they live and work.
Now Harriet is brimming with confidence for their future.
“My children stay clean while at school, look smart, and have ample time to concentrate in class. They no longer suffer from water-related sicknesses and don’t worry about collecting water before and after school. This is a wonderful change, and I am incredibly happy," - Harriet.
WaterAid/ James Kiyimba
WaterAid/ James Kiyimba
The Big Spring Swim Superstars
In November 2024, we asked supporters to take on the epic challenge of swimming their chosen distance across November and raising money for WaterAid. We were blown away with the efforts of all those involved, and especially by the efforts of our top fundraising team – Blue Carbon Lab!
We caught up with Ruby from the Blue Carbon lab to hear about their experience.
Hi Ruby. Could you firstly introduce your team...
Hello! We are a team of wetland scientists and nature lovers working to restore coastal and freshwater wetlands, helping to mitigate climate change, improve biodiversity, and protect our coasts in the process. Agustina, Chris, Diana, Josh, Kelz, Rory, Sabrina, Tallulah and I were all keen to join in on the Big Spring Swim.
What inspired your team to participate in The Big Spring Swim?
Afterhearingaboutalltheincrediblework WaterAidisdoingtohelpcommunitiesinneed, andwantingtogetagrouptogetherforregular funswimsanyway,wethoughtitwouldbethe perfectopportunitytoraisemoneyforareally worthycause.Itwasalsoabitofapersonal challengeforalotofuswhodidn'tknowifwe couldreachourgoals.Someofushadnever reallyswamlapsbefore,whilesomeofuswere reallycomfortableinthepool.Allofusendedup reachingourgoalsandwhat'sbeenamazingis it'sstartedapassionforalotofpeoplewhoare regularlyswimmingbecauseofit!
How did you stay motivated to reach your target?
How did you get friends and family to support your efforts?
Sinceweallworktogetheritwasprettyeasy toencourageeachotherandorganiseswims regularly.IthinkIspeakforallofuswhenIsaywe reallyenjoyedtheswimmingsoitdidn'tfeellikea chore.Especiallywhenyouaregoingforaswimon abeautifulsunnydaywithyourmates!
Ithinkregularlypostingtosocialmediahelpedus allreachourtargets,especiallypostingaphoto/ celebratoryvideoofhowfaryou'veswamand someinformationontheworkWaterAidisdoing tosecurecleandrinkingwater,sanitationand hygieneforcommunitiesaroundtheworld.
Corporate Spotlight: World Nomads’ Footprints Network
In 2025, WaterAid are delighted to be able to celebrate and acknowledge the 20th Anniversary of World Nomads’ Footprints Network. Launched in January 2005 to raise funds for the victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami, Footprints has evolved into something much bigger.
Through the Footprints program, World Nomads customers can make a small donation to a community development project when they buy a travel insurance policy.
Over the past 20 years, Footprints has raised nearly AUD $6 million and funded more than 270 community development projects around the world.
World Nomads have been supporting WaterAid’s work in our region since 2006, collaborating with us on programs across Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
Our work together has meant lifechanging access to water, toilets and hygiene in schools, healthcare centres and a broad range of communities.
Just a few examples of the impact we’ve delivered together include –
Installing a new gravity-fed water system for the community of Bimata in Timor-Leste, bringing them a reliable and sustainable new water supply.
Supporting WaterAid’s ongoing work to improve access to water, toilets and hygiene in rural Cambodian healthcare facilities, particularly those that look after pregnant women and babies.
Contributing to WaterAid’s ‘Keeping Girls in School’ project in Papua New Guinea, to ensure adolescent girls are being supported with menstrual hygiene education and improved access to water, toilet and hygiene facilities at school.
“Our partnership with WaterAid exemplifies the collective power of travelers to make a meaningful impact,” said Christina Tunnah, General Manager of Marketing and Brands at World Nomads.
“Through the Footprints program, thousands of micro-donations from our community of explorers have supported WaterAid’s mission to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities in need. Together, we’re not just helping people access a fundamental human right but empowering communities to thrive. We’re proud to stand alongside WaterAid in creating a more sustainable and equitable future.”
Supporter Survey
Our supporters are so important to us, and we want to connect with you in the best possible way! We would love you to fill in the survey below and pop it in your enclosed reply paid envelope … 1 2 3 4
Which of the following ways of supporting WaterAid would you consider?:
One-off donation
Monthly donation
Leaving a gift in my Will
Volunteering
Do you have an account and/or follow WaterAid on any of the following social platforms?
I have Facebook,
I have Instagram,
I have LinkedIn,
I have YouTube,
I have X,
I have Tik-Tok,
Fundraise for us 5 6
and follow WaterAid
and follow WaterAid
and follow WaterAid
and follow WaterAid
and follow WaterAid
and follow WaterAid
You may be aware the Australian government plans to phase out the use of cheques by 2030. Which of these alternative payment methods would you prefer to use to make a one-off donation to a charity, such as WaterAid (select up to three)?
Credit/debit card
Cash
BPAY
Paypal
Apple Pay/Google Pay
Post bill pay
Direct transfer
What sort of stories do you most enjoy reading in your Oasis magazine?
Stories of people whose lives have changed thanks to clean water
The latest water, sanitation and hygiene technologies
How our partners are supporting clean water
How supporters like you are raising funds and awareness for WaterAid
Are there any topics you’d like to read more about (tick as many as you like):
Our work in health care
Gender equity
Climate adaptation and resilience
Our work in schools
Our work with governments
Ideas to raise funds and awareness for WaterAid
Tips for water saving at home
Learning resources for parents and schools
Other:
Thank you for your support of WaterAid. Why do you think our cause is important (tick as many as you like)?
I think everyone has a right to access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene
I want my own children to understand the importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
I was looking for a charity to support who work specifically in WASH
WaterAid’s work aligns with my personal and/or family values
I or people I know have been impacted by lack of access to clean water, toilets or hygiene
Your support makes a difference
You can help provide clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to the people who need it most. Simply complete this form. Thank you.
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