By Abbey Cannan
A local company transforming South Pacific schools into hygienic places is asking the Noosa community to get behind them to help more disadvantaged kids.
Spatap company, invented by Rotary Club of Noosa Heads member Stuart Mason, is supplying the Spatap Portable Tap through the Rotary Club of Bribie Island Hand Hygiene For Health Project.
The project transforms classrooms and schools into hygienic places in a few hours. The hand washing system is managed by the students and teachers, empowering them to continue the practice by supplying a portable tap, a hygiene workshop and the skills needed to practise regular handwashing with minimal water.
Stuart said they are about to ship 2000 taps to classrooms through the project, but he would love to be able to give every student their own tap.
“We have everything in place from manufacture to shipping and distribution through the Rotary network, but we need a serious boost in funding if we are going to help everyone that needs it,” he said.
“We are a very small team of people running this and we would love for more volunteers and schools to get behind us. Any schools that would want to partner with us and create a massive impact through the Hand Hygiene For Health Project can contact us.“
Schools can get involved by asking the students and parents to donate a Spatap to a child or classroom in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea or Nauru.
There is also a corporate branding opportunity for businesses and individuals to help by donating a Spatap.
“The problem we’re working with, is the schools have approximately 1000 students sharing one tap,“ Stuart said.
“I’ve personally visited schools, pre-covid, where there are 2000 children in the school, and I’ve asked them to show me where they get their water.
“You and me and anyone in Noosa wouldn’t touch what they are calling a tap, let alone drink from it. It’s just horrific. They have a 300 metre walk to get to a water tank for this one tap.“
The cost for a Spatap portable tap is only AUD$15 and you can give as many as you feel comfortable with.
“These are our neighbours in the South Pacific, just a three hour flight away, and they deserve some compassion,“ Stuart said.
“I’d like to be able to give every student their own tap. You’re changing a whole classroom for the price of a coffee and a baguette.“
Hygiene conditions were horrific pre-COVID with many communicable diseases running rife in schools, now with the pandemic the problem has magnified, Stuart said.
“Try and imagine sharing a tap with 1000 other people, that’s the reality for most of the schools we are trying to help in the South Pacific. Many communities lack something as simple as a tap and piped water, the situation is dire. We’re doing what we can, but the task before us is enormous and we need help with funding.“
The Spatap is a portable tap fitting made from silicone that transforms any ordinary bottle of water into a flow controllable water saving tap.
The company has been awarded first prize winner for Water4Africa Standard Bank 2015 and first prize winner for Australian Aid Humanitarian Challenge 2017.
To donate to those in need, visit handhygieneforhealth.org/donate/
For more information email info@handhygieneforhealth.org
