Clean drinking water is a luxury we take for granted in Australia

There are 650 million people living without access to safe water, writes model Elyse Knowles. So I’m committing to a water challenge to help them.

Having access to clean drinking water changes lives. It’s something people like this child in Nepal would not take for granted. (Pic: WaterAid Australia)

As an Aussie, water is at the heart of our culture. It’s way of life. Whether you grew up on the beaches, by a river or dam, clean water is an integral part of our community.

That’s why it’s hard to imagine a life where you don’t have access to clean water every day; to drink, to have a shower, wash your hands or go to the toilet. Unfortunately, even in the 21st century these communities still exist. This is why I’m teaming up with WaterAid to help raise awareness of the 650 million people worldwide without access to safe water and make a change.

WaterAid works in 37 countries around the world, challenging the inequalities that prevent the poorest and most marginalised people from realising their right to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation transform lives. When children’s health improves, they are able to attend school. When women are freed from the burden of water collection, they have more time to work to earn an income and grow food. Families are able to take their first steps out of poverty.

WaterAid Australia works in 37 countries worldwide to provide people with safe water, sanitation and hygiene products. (Pic: WaterAid Australia)

My first assignment is the WaterAid Water Challenge, where I will drinking only water for the whole month of March. If I’m honest I actually don’t drink much else apart from water and herbal tea, so it won’t be a major change for me in day to day life, but it may be a bit more difficult when a social event pops up and alcohol isn’t allowed!

It might seem like a small sacrifice, for a model who already looks after herself to be doing this but if it gets people talking about the issue, then I’ve achieved my aim.

It kills me when people think that it’s a necessity to drink coffee every morning, or have a Friday night bevy after work. No one needs these things, you merely want them. I implore people to see why this challenge is so beneficial to others as well as themselves. Everyone can find the strength to cut out those “needed” liquids in their lives and fundraise for the people in this world that need clean water.

The second option of the Water Challenge is walking 10,000 steps a day from 20-24 March 2017. Walking this many steps might sound difficult, but it is actually quite easy if you are already lightly active. It’s all about changing habits, and becoming aware of how both beneficial and easy it is to add an extra 10 minutes onto your journey to walk there. Walk to the shops, walk the dog a little bit longer, park your car further away (saving on petrol too) and walk into work.

Model Elyse Knowles is taking part in the WaterAid Water Challenge. (Pic: WaterAid)

People will ask me why I am only drinking water and I actually can’t wait to tell them. Hopefully it will make them too think about how they can be involved in WaterAid’s work.

I’m very excited to be going on a trip in August with the WaterAid team to see first-hand how donations are being used to improve people’s lives and just how much they are needed in the world’s poorest communities. I have no doubt that seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they receive clean water will be so rewarding. For only $29 a month, WaterAid can provide five children with safe, clean water. That sounds like $29 well spent to me!

To know that 650 million people are living without safe water and one in three people live without a decent toilet is unacceptable to me. Can you imagine living like this? Or seeing your friends and family living like this? It makes the pit of my stomach drop. I feel that many of us can get so stressed about the small things in our everyday lives and this organisation really puts things in perspective, when there are people in the world that are in desperate need of basic essentials that we need to support.

The Water Challenge will not only improve your own health but enable you to raise money for those in need of clean, safe water.

Visit www.waterchallenge.org.au