Elyse Knowles to judge ‘Build a Loo’ challenge as State of World’s Toilets report released

3 min read
Elyse Knowles with a young girl in front of a toilet block in remote Timor-Leste

Teams from Melbourne Water, City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water will compete in a ‘Build a Loo’ challenge which will be judged by model and television show The Block winner Elyse Knowles at Melbourne Water’s office on Friday 17 November at 10am in the lead up to World Toilet Day on 19 November.

Will the toilets meet Elyse’s exceptional interior design standards? The teams will have 20 minutes to create their own DIY toilet out of everyday household materials in a competition to create the best model toilet.

2.3 billion people around the world don’t have access to a decent toilet and almost 800 children die every day from diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. The ‘Build a Loo’ challenge aims to raise awareness of these important issues.

WaterAid’s State of the World’s Toilets report which examines where in the world it is hardest to find a toilet, where is making the most progress and how a lack of good sanitation affects women throughout their lives, will be launched at the event.

Elyse Knowles’ passion for taps and toilets extends beyond the television screen, Elyse is an Ambassador for WaterAid and recently visited Timor-Leste to see firsthand the impact of WaterAid’s work. “Living in Australia it is easy to forget millions of people in the world don’t even have clean water or a decent toilet in their community let alone their home. Visiting villages in Timor-Leste, I saw how clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene brings happiness and joy to communities and improves people’s health and prosperity,” Ms Elyse Knowles said.

“One in three of the world’s population don’t have access to a decent toilet. It’s a topic that can be hard to discuss, so this November WaterAid wants to get everyone talking about toilets,” said Ms Rosie Wheen, WaterAid Australia Chief Executive.

“Many people have no choice but to face the indignity of going to the loo in the open, where they are exposed to disease and vulnerable to harassment and attack. A lack of good sanitation affects women disproportionately. Better health, education and gender equality cannot be achieved without ensuring the sanitation needs of women and girls are met,” said Ms Wheen.

As caretakers of Victoria’s drinking water and sewerage infrastructure, the teams from Melbourne Water, City West Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water know how important access to clean water and sanitation is for healthy people, places and environment.

WaterAid provides access to toilets in some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. Throughout November, WaterAid is encouraging people to Learn on the Loo to help people access decent toilets, good hygiene and clean water. Find out more at: www.learnontheloo.org.au

EVENT DETAILS:
Time and Date of event and report launch: 10am, Friday 17 November 2017
Place: Melbourne Water foyer, 990 La Trobe St, Docklands, Melbourne