WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation.
The Crisis
Globally, almost a quarter of schools either have clean water that's sometimes available, dirty water or no water at all.
Roughly half of the world’s population currently live with a severe lack of water for at least part of the year.
The risk of diarrhoea and ill-health reduces by 52% when dirty water is improved to clean water at home.
On the front cover: Students Joyanna, Joseph, and Obed jump for joy outside their new toilets at their school in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.
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
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WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
From our Chief Executive
It always brings me great joy to share Oasis magazine. It’s a fantastic snapshot of some the recent progress we have achieved with the help of supporters like you.
I am especially happy to be shining a spotlight on Papua New Guinea (PNG) in this edition. PNG is Australia’s closest neighbour, and our countries have many links with each other. But many people throughout PNG are currently living without safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene. And like many countries around the world, PNG is facing serious barriers in delivering these three essentials, such as challenging landscapes, unpredictable weather, and a low average income.
With our wonderful supporters, we are helping to achieve real progress in PNG. We are seeing access to water, toilets and hygiene rise through better infrastructure, increased knowledge and understanding, and strengthened systems at a local and national level. And we know that when communities have those three essentials, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men can earn a living, whole families and communities start to thrive.
This progress isn’t just occurring in PNG. It is happening all over the world with the help of people like you. But sometimes it’s nice to remember that positive change is happening very close to home.
I hope you enjoy the stories in the following pages as much as I do. They are proof of just how life-changing clean water, decent toilets and hygiene can be.
Thank you.
Tom Muller
WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
Bars of Hope
When clean water arrived in her village in Madagascar, budding entrepreneur Rojo got to work to keep her community healthy.
21-year-old Rojo is a businesswoman with big plans in Manjakandriana, Madagascar. But in the past, there was no time to think of tomorrow. She would spend hours each day collecting water from a dirty pond by the rice field at the bottom of the hill in her community. Now, with a water tap just a few metres from her home, she’s seized the opportunity to change her future.
Seizing opportunities
Rojo has taken out a business start-up loan from her community’s savings group, which was set up with training from our local partner so people can make the most of their new water supply. She’s investing the money to make and sell soap, from a simple recipe that her sister taught her: caustic soda, oil and, most importantly, clean water.
Through it all, she’s been inspired by her mum, who sadly died during the COVID-19 pandemic but who was herself an enthusiastic member of the savings group. “I am so proud of myself that with the little I do our community can access my soap and wash their hands properly,” she says. “This is my own way to make my mum proud and keep doing what she started”.
This WaterAid project and all the things that came with it has completely changed and improved my life… Now I am always thinking about what more I can do to improve my life.
- Rojo, 21, Manjakandriana, Madagascar
WaterAid/ Ernest Randriarimalala
WaterAid/ Ernest Randriarimalala
A Greener Tomorrow
How a clean water project in Mali is helping people to grow food in a changing climate – and giving the next generation a say over their future.
For people like Mayaman (pictured) climate change is a daily reality. A long-term decline in rainfall has led to a serious water shortage in her village, threatening their future. In the past, their two wells would often dry up. Women like Mayaman couldn’t even water their vegetables, so earning an income and feeding their children was even more of a challenge.
Now, the community is building a stronger base for future generations. With support, they have constructed a water tower, four tap stands, and wells for the women’s market garden. Young people have also revitalised the local youth club. They are helping everyone prepare for future floods, droughts
The construction of the borehole has motivated everyone again. We start earlier and make two harvests now as we have more water available - Mayaman Malle, Mali and bushfires, including by providing first aid and early warnings.
It all adds up to a greener future for women like Mayaman, who are now able to grow more vegetables. Families are earning money. Children are healthy. And the next generation are having their say, so they can lead the way as their climate changes.
WaterAid/ Basile Ouedraogo
Spotlight on Papua New Guinea
Country: Papua New Guinea
Capital: Port Moresby
Population: 10.5 million people
8.2 million people in Papua New Guinea –four in five –don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
Half the population of Papua New Guinea don’t have clean water close to home.
7.1 million people in Papua New Guinea – seven in ten – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.
WaterAid/Tariq Hawari
Wewak
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is Australia’s closest neighbouring country, with just 4km between us at the nearest point. PNG is known for its immense cultural and biological diversity. The landscape varies from beaches and coral reefs to volcanoes and rainforests, and the country is home to more than 800 spoken languages and hundreds of Indigenous ethnic groups.
PNG has many unique challenges when it comes to reaching its entire population with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. The country is separated by huge mountain ranges with no road access, and the tropical climate is becoming more and more volatile due to climate change. When people lack water, toilets and hygiene, this often negatively impacts other areas of their life such as their health and their ability to earn an income.
We know that education is an important enabler for a nation and its people to thrive, but in PNG a lack of water, toilets and hygiene within schools is negatively affecting the education of its young people. Without access to water or toilets, students often have to leave school to find these facilities, or miss school altogether. Lack of access disproportionately affects girls, who without a space to safely manage their period often miss many hours of school.
At Angela and Jenitha’s school in East Sepik Province, there are only two pit toilets for 260 students, with no handwashing facilities.
On days where there's no water running through the tap outside, we go to the main village to find water. And if there's really, really no water, then we just go home. There's no class for the day.
- Angela
When we have the proper toilet and water system that will solve some of the problems, like students overcrowded using the same toilet, and avoid some of the diseases. And also we will have a safe environment for the students to use those facilities, and they will enjoy their learning
- Mr Gideon, teacher
Angela explains, “Because there's no water, we find it difficult to stay in class because of the menstruation, it's uncomfortable for us. If we had water at school, it would be easier so we can just wash and freshen up and go back to class. But in this case we don't have it, so we just go back home” – Angela
Sadly, Angela and Jenitha’s school is just one of many schools throughout PNG facing this issue.
With your support, we have been working to provide water, toilets and hygiene to schools throughout Central and East Sepik provinces in Papua New Guinea.
We’ve been installing taps and rainwater tanks so students can have access to clean drinking water while they are at school. This means students can remain hydrated and healthy, so they are fit to attend school more often, focus on their classwork, and never have to miss class in order to collect or look for water.
We’ve also been building inclusive toilet blocks with some very important features. Firstly, they include handwashing facilities with running water to protect the health of all students and staff. Secondly, there are places for girls to safely manage their periods, and incinerators to hygienically dispose of menstrual products. This way, girls can feel comfortable to attend school when they have
their periods, and avoid falling behind their peers. Lastly, the facilities feature modifications like ramps, rails and wider doorways so they are accessible to students with disabilities. With your help, every student is able to attend school knowing their needs are met, and every student is given equal opportunity to learn and grow.
Thanks to our supporters, students throughout Papua New Guinea are being given the best chance at reaching their potential through clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in their schools.
Lamech and his friends wash their hands at their primary school’s new toilet block.
Students stand outside their new toilet block in Central Province, Papua New Guinea.
Since WaterAid Australia started working in PNG back in 2004, we have reached 152 schools with our water, toilet and hygiene programs.
The new toilets are really nice and we enjoy using them. I feel really happy using those toilets.
– Renee, grade 8.
WaterAid/Tariq Hawari
WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
WaterAid/Tariq
Hawari
Our Supporters
We’re constantly inspired by the determination of our supporters to raise funds and awareness for clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
I was inspired to take part in the WaterAid Water Challenge through a long-term friend who participated last year and recommended it as I had mentioned wanting to take a month off drinking alcohol. Little did I realise the true challenge that lay ahead by also giving up coffee, which coincidentally was also the hardest part of the challenge for myself. The sponsorship part of the challenge was surprisingly the easiest part as I chose to adopt some of the measures I found on the WaterAid website by offering sober drives to various events and functions for friends. Let’s not forget also the raising of money to a worthwhile cause!
We’d love to send out a huge thanks to Tim, who recently raised a fantastic $438.96 by giving up every drink except water for a month. He found the benefits much outweighed the challenge!
Are you raising money for WaterAid in a creative way? We’d love to hear about it. Tell us about your fundraising efforts at info@wateraid.org.au
A Cheeky Collaboration
Our long-term supporters would know that we have been partnering with toilet paper brand Who Gives a Crap to increase global access to toilets for many years now. But you may not be aware that over the past year, our partnership has led to an exciting new collaboration with Heaps Normal.
Heaps Normal is a certified BCorp and a dedicated non-alcoholic beer company that is changing drinking culture. Together with Who Gives a Crap, they are committed to helping provide more people with clean water and sanitation across the globe.
Both brands have come together to develop the ‘Cheeky IPA’ - a special release nonalcoholic beer that was launched in March
2024. If you are dedicated enough to read the text on the side of the cheeky can, you will see that WaterAid Australia is receiving $1.50 of each can sold.
So next time you’re browsing that non-alcoholic beer aisle, reach for the Heaps Normal Cheeky IPA and know you’re helping to change and save lives around the world!
The Big Spring Swim
This November, will you dive in and go the distance for life-saving clean water?
Inspired by our Paris Olympians to take your swimming to the next level? The Big Spring Swim is back again this November! Set yourself a challenge and swim a chosen distance over 30 days while raising money for life-saving clean water.
There’s a level to suit everybody: you can cover either 6km (equivalent to 8 laps of a standard 25m pool each day), 15km (20 laps a day) or 30km (40 laps a day) across the month.
You can make a splash in the pool or your favourite open water spot. Or a mix of both. It’s up to you!
Or why not get together with friends or colleagues and register for the Big Spring Swim as a team – you can fundraise together and share the distance to go even further for clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
Ask your family, friends and colleagues to support your impressive effort and end the month feeling fitter and healthier than ever!
Sign up now at wateraid.org/au/ thebigspringswim or by scanning the QR code
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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