Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery has transformed millions of lives since 2013 bringing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to families across the world. And now in 2021, they’re helping us confront the devastating impacts of climate change as it affects water supplies for the most vulnerable.
Working together to transform lives
Today, millions of people are facing every day without a reliable supply of clean water, a safe place to go to the toilet, or the basic hygiene that can save them from infection. With all three, children are born healthier, get the chance to go to school and grow up to become adults. Women and men get to earn a living and whole communities start to thrive.
Since 2013, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have been supporting our mission to reach everyone, everywhere with these basic human rights, helping communities break free from poverty and change their lives for good.
In 2020, we saw more than ever just how vital these things are – especially in keeping everyone well. Washing hands with clean water and soap is crucial in stopping the spread of so many infections, including coronavirus. And as the climate changes, the difference is felt most urgently through people’s access to water – and this is where players’ support is making all the difference in 2021.
What’s the connection between climate change and water?
Climate change means greater uncertainty and hardship for many communities, but it’s the world’s poorest people who’ll suffer the most. More frequent and extreme floods as well as rising sea levels are polluting water sources. Meanwhile, longer droughts mean wells and springs run dry. When weeks go by without rain, families are forced to spend hours searching for water and turn to unreliable sources that could make them sick.
This year, players of People’s Postcode Lottery are responding by supporting WaterAid’s climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene work as part of the £20m Postcode Climate Challenge. From Burkina Faso to Bangladesh, we’ll be building new systems, sharing the power of good hygiene and tackling the injustice of water poverty in 12 countries across the world.
Our work in drought-prone Mali will help communities monitor their own water supplies.
Pictured: Fatimata Coulibaly, a member of the Benkadi Women’s Group, takes a reading of a newly installed water meter, Segou Region, Mali.
In Burkina Faso, we’ll be working with communities to build and renovate existing water supplies as well as helping monitor water levels.
Pictured: Boukari Belem, a market gardener in Bazega Province (south central region), stands in his parched garden. The local dam dried up earlier than ever in 2021.
In Uganda, we’ll be working with communities to use rainwater harvesting, storage and conservation.
Pictured: Otyang Mary collects water from the edge of the river in Karomoja Region in Uganda – an area especially susceptible to a high degree of rainfall variability.
In Ethiopia, we’ll be building a multi-village piped water system and training water committees to manage water resources.
Pictured: Leyew Animut sits in a coffee shop supplied by water with pipes he helped to build.
Our work in Bangladesh will include supporting schools, healthcare centres and communities facing rising sea levels and salt water intrusion.
Pictured: Priota sits with water from her community’s pond sand filter which removes poisonous arsenic and other contaminants from the water.
Together, we make a bigger difference
Whether we raise waterpoints and toilets so they withstand floods, introduce technology that filters dirty water, store rainwater, tap into mountain springs or drill boreholes to get to groundwater – there are lots of ways we can improve water security through our work. Simple, everyday solutions can change lives.
We work with communities to identify the problems they face now and might face in the future because of climate change. We help them get involved in finding solutions and in managing their water. And we adapt the technology we use to suit their needs.
Through it all, we’ll be pushing governments to invest in giving everyone the clean water they need, whatever the changing climate brings. That’s how we’ll bring about lasting change – and we couldn’t do it all without players’ support.
How does People’s Postcode Lottery work?
Some 32% of all ticket sales go directly to supporting charities like us both in the UK and overseas. Anyone in England, Wales and Scotland can buy a ticket for £10 per month, using their postcode as their entry. Every day, there are a range of draws and players can win anything from £10 right up to a share of £3 million!
A huge thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their support of WaterAid today and throughout the year. Our future funding is intended to be awarded by Postcode Global Trust, a promoting society of People’s Postcode Lottery.
About People’s Postcode Lottery
- People’s Postcode Lottery manages lotteries on behalf of 20 Postcode Trusts. People play with their chosen postcodes for a chance to win cash prizes. A minimum of 32% from each subscription goes directly to charities and good causes in Britain and internationally. Players have raised more than £700 million so far. For details of the charities and good causes which are promoting and benefitting from the lottery draws, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes/draw-calendar
- It costs £10 a month to play and winning postcodes are announced every day. The maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw proceeds. For details, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes New players can sign up to pay using direct debit by calling 0808 10 9 8 7 6 5.
- New players who sign up online at www.postcodelottery.co.uk can pay using direct debit, debit card or PayPal.
- Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under licence numbers: 000-000829-N-102511 and 000-000829-R-102513. Registered office: 2nd Floor, 31 Chertsey Street, Guildford, Surrey, England, GU1 4HD
- Follow us @PPLComms
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