This year, WaterAid Australia is celebrating 20 years since it was founded by the water industry. For 20 years, WaterAid Australia has been working with local partners to have a significant impact on access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in vulnerable communities around the world.
Since its inception, WaterAid Australia has reached over five million people globally through its comprehensive WASH programs. These initiatives have been instrumental in supporting 88 healthcare facilities and 511 schools to access essential water, sanitation and hygiene services, enhancing the well-being of communities and promoting better health outcomes.
In celebration of its 20-year anniversary, WaterAid Australia has released a film highlighting the impact achieved over the last two decades.
WaterAid Australia Chief Executive Tom Muller said he is proud to be celebrating 20 years of impact.
“As we mark this milestone, I am filled with immense gratitude. Our impact has only been possible through the help of our partners and supporters. To all our partners, supporters and volunteers, I extend my heartfelt thank you. Your unwavering dedication and generosity have been the cornerstone of our success. “
Despite these accomplishments, challenges persist on the path to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6)—ensuring universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030. WaterAid Australia acknowledges the urgent need to accelerate efforts.
"As we look ahead, the journey towards achieving SDG6 remains challenging but essential," Muller added. "We are committed to intensifying our efforts, driven by the urgency to ensure no one is left behind in accessing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene."
Find out more at www.wateraid.org.au
Watch the film: here
Key Facts:
· 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home.1
· 2.2 billion people in the world – more than one in four – don’t have safe water.1
· Almost 2 billion people in the world – one in four – lack soap and/or water to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all.1
· 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.1
· 570 million people in the world – 1 in 14 – have a decent toilet but have to share it with people outside their family. This compromises the privacy, dignity and safety of women and girls.2
· Almost 400,000 children under five die every year due to diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. That's more than 1000 children a day, or almost one child every one and a half minutes.2
· Investing in safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services provides up to 21 times more value than it costs.3
About us:
WaterAid
WaterAid is an international not-for-profit determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. We work alongside communities in 22 countries to secure these three essentials that transform people’s lives. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water and nearly 29 million people with decent toilets.
To find out more visit www.wateraid.org.au follow @wateraidaustralia on Instagram, @WaterAidAus on Twitter, or find WaterAid Australia on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraidaustralia
Contact details:
For more information, please contact:
Tegan Dunne, Communications Manager, WaterAid Australia, tegan.dunne@wateraid.org.au
0415 714 589
