WaterAid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WaterAid is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. It is based in London, England and was established as a charitable trust on 21 July 1981. By 1987 its income exceeded £1 million per annum, and its 2004-05 accounts recorded an income of £18.3 million.
In 2003, WaterAid was named UK charity of the year at the Charity Times Awards. It currently works in partnership with local organisations in 17 countries in Africa and Asia to help poor communities establish sustainable water supplies and latrines, close to home. It also works to influence governments’ water and sanitation policies to serve the interests of vulnerable people.
In November 2006 WaterAid was named 'Britain's most Admired Charity 2006'. Voted by its peers in the voluntary sector, WaterAid came top of the category followed by Save the Children and The Samaritans. Andrew Cook, WaterAid’s Director of Communications and Fundraising said “We are delighted to have won this prestigious accolade. This award is testament to the tireless work of all WaterAid’s staff and volunteers both in the UK and internationally.”
WaterAid is part of the Make Poverty History campaign. Its twice-yearly magazine is called Oasis and includes news and features on planned and completed projects.
WaterAid spokesman, Paul Hetherington, criticized LifeStraw, a personal water purifier, as being too expensive for ordinary Africans, costing about $3.50 for 6 months per person, whereas WaterAid costs about $27.00 per person for "water, sanitation and hygiene education, .. [which] will last them a lifetime." [1]
WaterAid is associated with the Glastonbury Festival. The charity contributes to the festival by providing features and volunteers in exchange for free entrance and donations.
