Our partnership with The Water Trust

Improved access to clean water, latrines, and hygiene education has been proven to dramatically improve public health, reducing preventable deaths and increasing lifespan and productivity across water stressed areas. The UN estimates that each $1 invested in reducing water poverty has a nine-fold rate of return in improved productivity and reduced healthcare costs. Prior to this project, the communities’ primary water sources included unprotected water points far from their households. Unsanitary practices, such as open defecation, were commonly practiced.

The Water Trust has been working in the Masindi and Kiryandongo districts of Uganda since 2008. This project furthered their village partnerships program which helped their partner villages build four wells, and conducted regular training on hygiene and sanitation, from which 948 people directly benefited. Additionally, a local water committee was trained to take full ownership of the wells to ensure their long-term sustainability. The water points built are still functioning and providing clean water. These communities have also experienced a 30% decrease in reported diarrheal disease, which is a major contributor to preventable death and malnutrition, while also witnessing a reduction in intestinal worms from 27% to 12%. Beyond health outcomes, the construction of a nearby, clean source of water saves a typical family a full month of travel time a year. Women and children no longer need to travel far distances to collect water, reducing their exposure to risks to their health and safety and leading to more time for study, work, and leisure.