WINTER 2017

“I like to play with my best friend Lucy.
If I didn’t have to get water, I would play
with my friends all day."
Nancy, 6, Tombohuaun
Making a
difference
in the life of a child.
My favorite job in the world is being an
aunt. I love everything that comes with it.
Having the hugs you get from the nieces
and nephews, the sticky fingers as they
eat on your lap or when they decide your
shirt looks way to clean, the chocolate
covered mouths that think it is funny to
chase you around the house trying to
get you dirty, the kid jokes they like to
tell and then watching them laugh
hysterically at the joke they just made
up.
It is because of this love that I feel for my
nieces and nephews that I care about
children in countries without access to
clean water and sanitation. It breaks my
heart every time I watch videos showing
how children have to give up school to
get water for their families, how young
girls have to walk into areas where they
are not safe so that they can go to the
bathroom.
November 19 marked World Toilet day
across the globe. Some people don’t like
to talk toilets; in my mind it is just as
appropriate to talk about toilets and how
so many still don’t have access to one, as
it is to discuss the latest shopping trend
or food trend. The more you talk about
something the more people who are
unaware of situations can get that
simple things we do can help change the
life of a child and their family.
I love my toilet. I love being able to flush
every time I use it. I like wearing my shirt
that is covered in toilets and hearing
people ask why I wear a shirt covered in
toilets. A conversation
starts and changes happen
when you care. As my nephews like to
say “sharing is caring.”
World Toilet Day is a global day
celebrated because of the sanitation
crisis faced by so many countries still.
Every minute a person dies somewhere
in the world due to lack of basic
sanitation.
This past Tuesday was Giving Tuesday – a
day when charities across the world see
donations come in more than any other
time of the year. I love seeing how people
participate on Giving Tuesday but what I
like to see even more is how much of a
difference you can make year round.
For me, it is simple. I believe in water and
sanitation for all. I believe I have been
privileged to live in the country I live in
and for that I am immensely grateful
which is why I will make it my mission to
give year round to my charity, WaterAid
Canada, which believes as I do that water
and sanitation are key.
This year I am personally doing things a
little different for Christmas, I have so
many friends and family who have so
much that I am going to give the gift of
water rather than gift them. I issue this
challenge to all of you with parents who
have so much you never know what to
get them, children who have so many
toys already, grandparents who have
everything they need – give a gift that
makes a lasting impact on their lives and
the lives of someone across the world.
Give the Gift of Water.
You can show your family what you did
to make the difference in the lives of
someone else through this special gift by
showing them the YouTube videos you
can find easily on the WaterAid channel
that show children, moms and
grandmothers who walk for water. Show
them the videos that show the faces of
these women when they get the gift of
water. Show them how they can be
superheroes in the lives of someone they
have never met. Water is the most
valuable resource we have in our world –
it can save more lives than any other one
thing can. It is truly a gift of love to give a
gift of water to someone who needs it.
Merry Christmas &
happy gift giving.
Calle Behnke
SWWA Office Manager
Thank you
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