Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA)

Bringing Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for All

Since the dawn of history, faith has provided a foundation from which social norms develop. It is to faith leaders that billions are drawn in times of joy and sorrow, as well as in the search for inner meaning. As teachers to the masses, the words of faith leaders motivate, persuade and enable. Through their speech and actions, they can bring about change in a way unparalleled by others. An estimated 5 billion people around the world are members of religious communities, underscoring the critical role religious leaders can play in addressing seemingly intractable problems – such as access to safe water and sanitation.

The Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), of which Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji is Secretary-General, is the world’s first initiative that is engaging the planet’s many faiths as allies in efforts to create a world where every human being has access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and proper hygiene. GIWA was launched by UNICEF at UNICEF Headquarters during the United Nations General Assembly Meetings in New York at an event sponsored by USAID and the Government of the Netherlands.

GIWA’s Many Programs Include:

Witness the groundbreaking impact of the world’s first faith-inspired social movement for water, sanitation, and hygiene, touching the lives of countless millions. With the powerful guidance of revered faith leaders, communities that once never envisioned having access to proper sanitation facilities are now being inspired to embrace improved hygiene practices and more.

GIWA’s Women for WASH Initiative is enabling women from villages and slums to become WASH entrepreneurs. They work together to ensure their communities embrace and have access to essential resources like toilets, clean water, and more.

GIWA’s World Toilet College offers classroom and outreach training that covers the entire range of sanitation topics, empowering industry workers with knowledge, skills and pride in their work. So far, our World Toilet College provided more than 8000 people with knowledge and skills to directly address India’s most pressing sanitation needs.

From faith led WASH Summits to large-scale public events and beyond, leaders and communities are joining forces to save lives and create a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world. Join this transformative movement and be part of the journey towards a brighter future for all.

WASH on Wheels is an inspired mobile educational platform that travels to communities and events across the nation, featuring videos of foremost faith leaders promoting the use of toilets, as well as street theatre, puppet shows, sanitation walks and more.

GIWA’s WaterSchool programme in partnership with Swarovski trains and motivates teachers and students to learn the principles of sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for becoming social change agents.

Explore our impactful campaigns that harness the power of faith to bring about transformative change in societal perceptions. From promoting WASH to advocating for environmental preservation and empowering women, our initiatives are making a difference.

GIWA together with UNFPA is working to empower youth with life skills, and transform mindsets on gender equality through the power of interfaith messaging.

GIWA together with UNICEF is working with the nation’s faith leaders to empower their voices in encouraging their communities to live more sustainably, promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles in line with the Government of India’s Mission LiFE. GIWA is working actively to investigate, promote and implement technologies that can help control the impacts of climate change.

GIWA’s leadership travels the world for high-level meetings and summits with our world’s leaders, sharing our vision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all.

Visit Global Interfaith WASH Alliance’s website to learn more.

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