WaterAid

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

Can you believe it's almost October already? Here at WaterAid HQ, we're already planning our festive fundraising campaigns, and we can't wait to share them with you all 👀 Is it too early to get Mariah Carey on, or are you already donning your festive jumper around the office? 🎄

"As an implementer, I was happy to see there are people higher up who advocate for things like infection prevention and control, and good sanitation and hygiene. And I feel empowered to go back to my hospital and do what I do." 💪 Dr Gabriela Ak, a pathologist at Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea, reflects on her time at the UN General Assembly with our delegation, and the efforts being taken globally to combat antimicrobial resistance 🦠 #UNGA79 #AMR #Superbugs #PreventionFirst

🦠 Today, the UN General Assembly held its second high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and released a new Political Declaration. 📜 The declaration recognises the role of preventative measures like universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to avert the AMR crisis but, unfortunately, gives much more attention to research and development of new antibiotics.    Despite the fact that millions more lives will be saved through prevention than through new drugs 💊   According to the Lancet, 11.1 million AMR-related deaths could be prevented through new drugs by 2050 but 92 million lives could be saved through better healthcare and infection control 🙌 💦 The clock is ticking, and resistance is growing. UN member states must urgently act on the target in the declaration for every healthcare facility, everywhere, to have water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Only then can we truly protect the health of communities around the world 🌍 #AMR #GlobalHealth #UNGA #PreventionFirst

Fancy adding Boy George's toilet seat to your art collection? 🎨 The pop icon himself created this masterpiece for us as part of our Best Seat in the House collection, to raise money for life-saving loos. It'll be on display at the Saatchi Gallery this weekend as part of the British Art Fair, along with 24 other extraordinary designs created by celebrities and artists.