Tanzania has experienced an increase in individuals with access to clean water and sanitation resources, but there is still a large need for safe water and the opportunities it provides. Around 50% of Tanzanians still lack access to clean water, and the majority of these individuals live in rural areas.

Water for Life Charity works regularly in the rural communities outside of Arusha, Tanzania to share water resources and water hygiene education. Because of the rural nature of these communities and tribes, Water for Life Charity distributes VF100 water filters for several reasons:

  • Cost-efficient and small size allow us to distribute more water filters in communities lacking clean water
  • Durable and long-lasting design ensures sustainability
  • Effective technology removes 99.99999% of bacteria and protozoa while still filtering water at a high rate for 10 people every day.

For this specific water project with our distribution partner ROAM Humanitarian, volunteers visited five different rural communities and tribes around Arusha to distribute filters and train local individuals on filter maintenance and water hygiene. The distribution of these filters was focused on serving and meeting water needs for individuals who are often hit the hardest by the world water crisis: children, single mothers, and the elderly.

Women and children do the majority of water collection in most parts of the world, traveling hours each way to find water that might not even be safe to drink. Water filters allow these women and children to use the water available to them where they are and make it safe to use for drinking, cooking and sanitation. This leaves them with time to better care for their families, find employment opportunities, and attend school. All of these opportunities provide them with the hope and choices to live healthier, better lives.

In villages near Olkolili and Kia, volunteers distributed 75 water filters along with mattresses to village elders. In Olkokola, volunteers distributed 25 filters and trained local families in a small village on filter maintenance. With each filter providing enough daily clean water for 10 individuals, these filters provide the majority of the village with clean, safe water. Volunteers then traveled to villages in Sokoni and Terrrat to share 11 total water filters with a primary school and an orphanage for children with special needs.

“Filters have been life changing for a lot of people in the community since they’ve never had clean water before. Not everyone has money to buy clean water,” shared Benja, a local partner who helps with filter distribution and education in the local Maasai language. “Now people can access clean water anytime and be healthy.”

In addition to distributing VF100 water filters, volunteers also helped install eight 3,000-liter water tanks in a village in Engikaret provided by our distribution partner ROAM Humanitarian. The water available in this community contains such high levels of fluoride that it causes health issues and deformities. These water tanks will allow the community to collect rain water and then filter it with a VF100 water filter to make sure that there is no fluoride, bacteria or protozoa in their water. With these water tanks and water filters, communities can finally access clean, safe water without the risk of waterborne illnesses.

Help us continue providing clean water resources in Tanzania. One water filter has the ability to provide an entire family—and a few of their neighbors—with clean, safe water and the hope for a healthier, better life. Donate today and change and save lives through clean water.