WaterAid

What are you doing to look after yourself today? 💙 #WorldMentalHealthDay

🚨 This is a clear sign that the climate crisis is a water crisis 🚨 According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in over thirty years, putting immense pressure on the water supplies that countless communities depend on. This is why we won't stop calling on world leaders to prioritise action on water. After all, no one can adapt to a world without water. 📨 If you're in the UK, you can email your MP and encourage them to raise the importance of clean water in parliament 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wNBT5 #ClimateChange #ClimateNews #CleanWater

As water is being rationed in countries around the world, the mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogotá, has recommended that couples shower together to save water. Is it time that we start doing the same?

Meet our UK Head of People, Dinusha de Silva-Parker, also known as Noosh! Noosh, what’s been your proudest WaterAid moment? "So many in less than a year, which one to select! The way that the UK People Team are more and more proactive in engaging in conversations with the staff here on topics that are important to them, topics like diversity, equity and empowerment. We have a several working groups in the UK now and are actively developing the priorities in the UK around gender, ethnicity, and disability to help shape the UK workplace."   What’s an insight about your role that you’d like to share? "Listen twice as much as you speak and observe like a meerkat for its Mob —yes, this is what a group of meerkats is called."   And what’s your favourite film? "Ohhhh, that is tough, as I have more than one favourite! If I was left alone on the moon, I could keep watching Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on repeat without ever getting bored." Keep an eye on our job openings for your chance to join our team and make a real impact 💧

We’re devastated to share that our valued former colleague, Louisa Gosling, sadly passed away earlier this week. She was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago.   Louisa worked for WaterAid for more than 11 years and was a formidable WASH and equalities pioneer and champion. She helped make us globally known for championing water and sanitation as human rights, and for our work on inclusive and sustainable WASH.   As many of us who knew and worked with her will know, what was so special was Louisa’s way of working with others and connecting people all around the world to a common greater mission: to improve the lives of those who were most marginalised. This mission still lies at the heart of our organisation today. She challenged and inspired us, and her legacy, tools, and outputs continue to do so, both within WaterAid and in the wider development sector.    She will be greatly missed as an expert, as a colleague, a friend and as a wonderful human being.

Do you remember your favourite teacher from school? 🍎 Teachers have a profound impact on the future of the children they teach, and their lessons extend beyond the classroom. During Tyler West's visit to Zambia, he met Jane, who teaches in a school in the Kazungula district. She also runs the school Hygiene club, which was set up after we provided clean water to the school. When Jane first joined the school, there was a water point at the nearby clinic, which everyone had to use for drinking, cooking and bathing. It meant many people would be late for school because of the time they had to spend collecting water. Students also got sick because of the water, so it wasn’t easy for them to come to school and learn. “Since getting the new water and hygiene facilities, we've seen increased academic performance, especially by the girls. They're now managing menstrual hygiene here at school. Also, because of the reduction in disease, they can now come to school more frequently.” The school’s Hygiene club, which Jane runs, teaches students about the importance of hygiene, maintaining the facilities onsite and water conservation. This includes teaching both girls and boys about menstrual hygiene. “I'm really grateful... Before, I wouldn't stress over water. Now I know anytime I feel like taking a shower, I can take a shower. Anytime I feel like cooking, I can do my cooking without worrying. I feel better as a teacher.” We exist because no one should be held back by a lack of clean water, and we're working with schools like Jane's to make sure it's a normal part of life for everyone, everywhere 💙

For Anju, clean water means nothing's holding her back from her dream 🏐 Our work in the Dolakha District has brought water to schools and homes like Anju's, ensuring students can stay in school and get a proper education. We're working in Nepal and around the world to make sure everyone, everywhere has clean water, so they can thrive 💙 Help more communities experience their first cup of clean water: https://brnw.ch/21wNn8C #FirstCup #WaterAid #CleanWater #Nepal #Water

A baby's first moment shouldn't be their last. Thank you to everyone at the UN General Assembly – including Helen Clark, Ray Collins, Rajat Khosla, Khumbize Kandodo, Jean McLean, Aaron Motsoaledi and Karin Tegmark Wisell – who signed our pledge to ensure no mother gives birth in a health centre without clean water. #UNGA79 #MaternalHealth #AMR #PreventionFirst

Did you know that toilets have the power to save lives? 🚽 To help spread this message far and wide, we partnered with the British Art Fair to showcase 25 weird and wonderful toilet seat artworks, created by a bunch of talented artists and celebrities. Together, we raised thousands of pounds, which will support our work around the world and bring us one step closer to ending the sanitation crisis for good 💙 The Independent Euronews Art Plugged FAD Magazine Civil Society Media Ltd THE STANDARD #BritishArtFair

What's it like living on the frontlines of the climate crisis? This International Youth Day, hear from our COP28 youth advocate, Samia Anwar Rafa, about what it's like for people with disabilities, living in the communities worst impacted by climate change 🌎 #YouthLead #InternationalYouthDay #ClimateChange WaterAid Bangladesh