WaterAid launches Zakat campaign to help transform lives with clean water

This Ramadan, WaterAid is inviting the Muslim community to support the charity’s Zakat appeal to help bring clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Mali.  

One of the five pillars of Islam, Zakat is an obligatory form of charity, every adult Muslim whose savings exceed a set minimum is required to donate 2.5% of accumulated savings to good causes that fall into specific categories. The international charity has collaborated with Islamic faith experts to develop a new Zakat policy and run projects that meet the principles of Zakat. For the first time, supporters can choose which country to support, with 100% of donations going directly to vulnerable communities. With clean water, children can stay healthy and in school, and their parents can earn a living, enabling whole families to flourish.  

In Bangladesh, where 1 in 5 schools have no clean water and many more lack decent toilets and handwashing facilities, donations will help to build and renovate accessible water and toilet facilities in two Madrassa schools. Just £10 can buy five water taps and £150 will pay for the cost of a tube well. The project will benefit 500 pupils, helping improve their health, attendance and performance, as well as providing a model to be replicated by other schools.  

In the Muzaffargarh district in Pakistan, the Zakat campaign will help communities affected by climate change. The global climate emergency is making it even harder for vulnerable people to get clean water. Droughts dry up water sources, while more frequent and extreme flooding pollutes fragile water sources and cause toilets to overflow, which can lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera. Pakistan is in the top quintile for vulnerability to climate change. WaterAid will provide climate-resilient water and sanitation services in communities, health care centres and schools, which will keep functioning whatever the future holds. A donation of £100 will help buy a water tank.    

Zakat donations will also help communities in Mali, one of the poorest and hottest countries in the world, where more than 11 million people do not have decent toilets – that’s around 60% of the population – and more than 4 million people have no clean water. WaterAid’s project in the districts of Bla and Kati will provide life-changing water pumps in communities, handwashing facilities in health centres, and toilet blocks in schools. A donation of £60 will help buy a clean water tank and £500 will help install handwashing stations. 

WaterAid’s philanthropy team can support those considering a larger donation of £10,000 or more while still meeting Zakat requirements. 

Marcus Missen, Director of Communications & Fundraising at WaterAid, said: 

“We’re delighted to launch our Zakat appeal this Ramadan, enabling the Muslim community to help transform lives around the world with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene through projects that meet Zakat requirements. Gaining access to these basic human rights can provide the first step out of poverty, improving health, education and livelihoods for whole communities, and helping build resilience against our changing climate. We are so grateful for all the support we receive as we work towards a world where everyone everywhere has clean water and decent sanitation.”  

For more information about WaterAid’s Zakat policy and projects, visit: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/donate/zakat  

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