Impact Accelerator - The Partnership

The Partnership

Simon, Danny and Jehan started Who Gives A Crap when they learnt that billions of people around the world don’t have access to a toilet of their own. Thinking that was pretty crap, they launched Who Gives A Crap with a crowdfunding campaign. Simon sat on a toilet in a draughty warehouse and refused to move until they had raised enough pre-orders to start production. 50 hours and one cold bottom later, they’d raised over $50,000 (see the video here!)

Deciding to donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world, the same year as the launch Who Gives a Crap partnered with WaterAid.

Now, from bringing clean water and sanitation to schools in Colombia, to campaigning to end open defecation in Papua New Guinea, this is just some of the incredible work made possible by Who Gives A Crap’s support.

The Partnership in Practice

Here are just some of the life-changing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) work Who Gives A Crap and WaterAid are achieving together.

Improving WASH in Healthcare in Timor-Leste

With the support of Who Gives A Crap, WaterAid is delivering improved WASH to healthcare facilities in Timor-Leste, through training, education and WASH facility upgrades.

^{“After WaterAid and its implementing partner supported our healthcare facility and constructed the inclusivity toilets, we the medical staffs are happy now and really appreciate the support provided and that patients who come for a check-up can access the toilets of the facilities whenever they need.”-} - Dr. Gina Remigia

Ending Open Defecation in Wewak, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is among the bottom five countries in the world for both water and sanitation access. WaterAid and Who Gives A Crap are currently working to end open defecation in the Wewak District of PNG, by building a political and sector momentum and commitment to an Open Defecation Free (ODF) agenda for PNG.

"When many people use the toilet, it gets full and it's difficult for us to use it. Sometimes I feel ashamed to use the sea as a toilet, sometimes we feel afraid if there are people around. If there was a toilet near my house it would be very comfortable for me to use it." - Joyce, 16

Ensuring Gender Equality in WASH in Cambodia

Cambodia is severely lacking in professionals working in the WASH sector, falling more than 11,000 short of the total needed to achieve SDG6 by 2030. Through the WaterAid and Who Gives A Crap partnership, critical work is being done to ensure a new generation of WASH leaders, especially women, are equipped with the skills and knowledge to advance their careers in the WASH sector in Cambodia, and fill this gap.

“I am studying to become an engineer because Cambodia does not have enough clean water or enough professionals in the water sector to bring this clean water. We need more water professional but we also need more women in the sector. Women are the ones who collect the water and have the understanding how hard it is, so we are the ones driven to make a real difference and help other women to find easier ways to access water.” – Thida

Dr. Gina Remigia works at one of the healthcare centres supported by Who Gives a Crap and WaterAid. WaterAid/Tom Greenwood

Joyce, 16, has no toilet near her home and uses the sea to go to the toilet, either wading in and squatting down, or going at night and waiting for the tide to flush it away. WaterAid/Tom Greenwood

Thida is in her fourth year studying to become a water engineer in Cambodia.

About us

About Who Gives A Crap

Funny name. Serious business*.

Who Gives A Crap was founded in Melbourne by Simon Griffiths, Danny Alexander and Jehan Ratnatunga after they learned 2.5 billion people in the world don’t have access to a toilet (it’s 2 billion now – yay for progress!). We make eco-friendly toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. Unlike most paper products, ours are made without trees. In addition, we donate 50% of profits to charity partners so they can continue doing the amazing and vital work of building toilets and improving sanitation in developing countries.

*Sort of. We do love bum jokes...

Visit the Who Gives A Crap Website

Chiswe village children collecting clean water from the new water kiosk, Mponela, Malawi. WaterAid/Dennis Lupenga

WaterAid/Rasel Chowdhury

About WaterAid

WaterAid is an international not-for-profit, determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty, and change their lives for good. Children grow up healthy and strong, women and men get to earn a living, whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.

Together, we will change millions of lives for the better – and change normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation.

Learn more about WaterAid Australia