Happy New Year from WaterAid in Australia

Peter Dwan celebrates the completion of new water system with local residents in Timor-Leste

Credit: WaterAid

2009 was challenging but incredibly exciting year for WaterAid globally.

Around the world we have achieved a huge amount and thanks to the commitment of our supporters, staff, partners and communities one million more people now have access to safe water and over two million more have improved sanitation.

We also campaigned with considerable success to raise awareness of the importance of safe water and sanitation as essential services, vital for an end to poverty.

While Australia remains buoyant in otherwise uncertain financial times, the poorest people in the countries where we work continue to struggle against extreme poverty, as I saw for myself this year in Timor-Leste.

There I saw the final stages of a $600,000 programme in Liquica district through which 2,250 people gained access to clean water and 2,250 to sanitation for more information about our work in Timor-Leste go here. 

We launched our ambitious new Global strategy for 2009 to 2015 in October last year and started working in eight new countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as introducing our first stage of support to programs in Laos, bringing the number of countries we work in to 26 worldwide. We also opened a WaterAid office in Sweden which will raise vital funds and influence change.

Over the next five years, through our investment in our partners local governments, community based organisations, non-governmental organisations and local businesses, we aim to reach 25 million people directly and four times this number indirectly through our advocacy and influence work.

As always, we look to our supporters and our partners to help us to achieve our targets. There is a lot that everyone can do to get involved and help to reach the 884 million people without safe water and 2.5 billion without sanitation.
Take for example one of our supporters, Gregory Lafitte, who cycled from Darwin to Melbourne in December to raise funds for our vital work. In total he rode over 3700 kilometres and raised over $1200 for us which is I'm sure you will agree, is an amazing effort.

People around the world are doing amazing things to help transform people's lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world's poorest communities.

Thank you all for your ongoing commitment and support.

Peter Dwan
Head of International programs (Acting Chief Executive), WaterAid in Australia

Find out more:
Read our new strategy
Get involved and raise funds or campaign for change