Operations in 30 countries
Biocool is a proud partner company of WaterAid
WaterAid is an international organization working for a world where everyone has access to clean water, toilets and hygiene. Every year, the organization reaches millions of people living in the world's poorest communities with clean water, toilets and hygiene.
WaterAid works with local partners for sustainable and long-term solutions and influences decision-makers globally and nationally to increase priorities and efforts for these basic needs.
WaterAid operates in 30 countries and since its inception in 1981, over 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 as a result of WaterAid's work.
WaterAid has been in Sweden since 2009. For more information, visit wateraid.se .
Extensive challenges
- 703 million people today lack clean water. That means almost one in ten people in the world.
- A standard water bottle in many countries holds 20 liters of water. This means that women have to carry 20 kilograms of water long distances, often several times a day.
- In 8 out of 10 households that lack water, it is women and girls who go to fetch water.
- Globally, 1.7 billion people lack access to clean water at the healthcare facility they visit.
- 288 million children lack access to clean water in their schools.
Education begins with clean water
At Rasivhetshele Primary School in South Africa, there is a lot of activity. Students are on break and chatter and laughter echo in the corridors. But it hasn't always been that way.
“We used to queue for the toilets and we used to start fighting and some of us got injured when we fought to get into the toilets,” says student Zwivhuya, who is 12 years old.
Previously, the school had too few toilets for the number of students and it often became noisy and messy during breaks. There was also a fight over the water, which was not enough for everyone. It was a difficult situation that affected more than just the atmosphere:
“Before, we girls used to skip school when we had our periods, we couldn't come to school because 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 are at risk of contracting diseases. Many miss school due to diarrheal diseases, leading to a vicious cycle of poor 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 glad that girls have their own toilets and boys have their own toilets, so we have privacy,” says Zwivhuya. “Now we come to school every day.”
When children have access to clean water at school, their chances for a brighter future are improved. Because water is more than a thirst quencher - it is a prerequisite for children to stay healthy and not miss school.