Operations in 30 countries
Biocool is proud to be a partner company of WaterAid
WaterAid is an international organization working to create a world where everyone has access to clean water, toilets, and hygiene. Each year, the organization reaches millions of people living in the world's poorest communities with clean water, toilets, and hygiene.
WaterAid collaborates with local partners for sustainable, long-term solutions and advocates to global and national decision-makers to increase priorities and efforts for these basic needs.
WaterAid operates in 30 countries, and since its founding in 1981, more than 28.5 million people have gained access to clean water, 29 million have gained access to toilets, and 27.8 million have gained access to hygiene services as a result of WaterAid's work.
WaterAid has been present in Sweden since 2009. For more information, visit wateraid.se.
Comprehensive challenges
- 703 million people today lack access to clean water. That’s nearly one in every ten people worldwide.
- A standard bucket in many countries holds 20 liters of water. That means women have to carry 20 kilograms of water long distances, often several times a day.
- In 8 out of 10 households without water, it is women and girls who fetch water.
- Globally, 1.7 billion people lack access to clean water at the healthcare facilities they visit.
- 288 million children lack access to clean water at their schools.
Education starts with clean water
At Rasivhetshele Primary School in South Africa, there is bustling activity. Students are on break, chatting, and laughter echoes through the hallways. But that hasn’t always been the case.
“We used to queue for the toilets, and we would start arguing, and some of us got hurt when we fought to get into the toilets,” says 12-year-old student Zwivhuya.
Earlier, the school had too few toilets for the number of students, and it was often chaotic and messy during recess. There were also arguments over water that wasn’t enough for everyone. It was a frustrating situation that impacted more than just the atmosphere:
‘Before, we girls would skip school when we had our periods because we couldn’t come to school—there weren’t enough toilets,’ says Zwivhuya.
When there is no clean water to drink or wash hands with at school, many children get sick because they are forced to drink dirty water and risk falling ill. Many miss school due to diarrhoeal diseases, which creates a vicious cycle of poorer educational opportunities and poverty.
Recently, WaterAid installed more toilets, improved access to clean water and handwashing stations at the school, which changed everything.
‘I’m so glad the girls have their own toilets and the boys have theirs, so we have privacy,’ says Zwivhuya. ‘Now we come to school every day.’
When children have access to clean water at school, their chances of a brighter future improve. Because water is more than just a thirst quencher —it is a prerequisite for children to stay healthy and not miss school.