Join Dhairya Mistry to support WaterAid India in Community Development

My name is Dhairya Mistry and I am a student of CP Goenka International School, Thane. I am raising funds for the NGO Wateraid, to provide clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere. Here's our chance to come together to make a difference and improve the quality of life for vulnerable communities across India to unlock their potential to break free from the cycle of poverty and to change lives for good.

About the NGO

WaterAid India is a part of the global WaterAid network which seeks to improve access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere.

It started in 1986 because no non-profit like them existed. They are determined to make clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. Only by tackling these three essentials, in ways that last, can people change their lives for good.

In India, WaterAid works with communities in rural and urban areas through partners. Thanks to our amazing supporters, we have reached millions of people with these three essentials – clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene.

We will not stop. Not until clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene are a normal part of everyday life for everyone, everywhere.

The Problem

In India, 163 million people face a daily struggle to access clean water close to home (JMP 2017). They have no choice but to drink dirty water and they lack enough water for washing, cooking, cleaning, and production of food. As a result, they get sick, and their education and livelihoods suffer. Water security is the ability to access enough clean water to maintain standards of food and goods production, sanitation and health care.

Getting clean water and decent toilets to informal settlements in cities is often complex, and no easier in smaller towns.      

For girls and women, the lack of toilets also affects their privacy and safety – they often wait until dark to find a quiet place to defecate, which increases the risk of being harassed. Without toilets in schools, children are left to defecate in the open. This makes them vulnerable to diarrhea illnesses and causes them to miss school.

With an increasing number of children enrolling in schools, the need for educational institutions to provide a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) secure learning environment and hygiene behavior is essential.

The Solution

• We motivate communities and promote local skills to develop, install and manage water security plans. We also work to integrate water security measures, like conservation, rainwater harvesting, and water safety in the budgets and plans.
• We work with people living in informal settlements to ensure their voices are heard when new services are being designed, implemented, or monitored so that their needs are addressed. We support water utilities and municipal authorities to develop approaches that are inclusive, affordable, and flexible.
• Build water security and water quality models at the community level.
• Mobilize communities and strengthen mandated institutions, including health care centers, schools, anganwadis, and so on.      
• Promote behavior change through campaigns and community mobilization activities.
• Initiate hygiene and behavior change with a key focus on menstrual hygiene management.
• WASH – Access to clean drinking water, decent separate toilet, infrastructure for menstrual hygiene management, conducting hygiene sessions, and distributing wash modules.        

Rangamma, 80 years

Sri City, Andhra Pradesh

“I am very happy with the stand post as it is right next to my house. Earlier I used to get water from far off.

Due to my age, I can’t walk long distances or lift heavy weight. The stand post has proved to be a boon.”

I am committed to helping WaterAid in their endeavors In India and request you to do the same by donating towards this cause and supporting my efforts "To change lives of those who tend miles to access clean water.

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