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Photo: Xavier Vahed Oxfam AU

The difference you could make today

Today 2.5 billion people, including almost one billion children, live without even basic sanitation. Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation. That’s 1.5 million preventable deaths each year. Thanks to supporters like you, Oxfam is a world leader in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs.

In South Africa, Oxfam supporters  are helping to install an ingenious hygiene device called a “tippy-tap.” It’s a simple, cost-effective and efficient hand-washing station with the power to reduce disease in a community by up to 50%. They’re also installing rainwater tanks in schools, providing training on water purification techniques and teaching kids about good hygiene from an early age.

Dr Helen Szoke, Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia, visited just some of the WASH projects in South Africa last year. She found out first-hand how your support has the capacity to change lives for good.

Read Helen’s travel journal below.

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