When a majority of individuals lack access to safe water, a water filter is a truly life-changing resource.

An estimated 68% of all individuals in Tanzania lack clean, safe water. Most of these individuals and families also live in rural communities where villages are even less likely to have funding and infrastructure for water resources.

As part of our ongoing water project in Tanzania with ROAM Humanitarian, we distributed 180 VF100 water filters to families in rural villages surrounding Arusha. Where before women and girls would have to collect water and boil it or risk getting sick, now they can filter their water and make it safe for their loved ones and neighbors.

Here are a few of the individuals and communities who now have access to safe water in Tanzania after this water project:

Rural Maasai Village

Fifty water filters we distributed in a rural Maasai village outside of Arusha. One of the filters went to a mother and son who especially needed this hope and life.

Lakule was born blind, and in his small village, cultural beliefs deemed him and his mother cursed; they were often beaten because of this. Lakule’s mother protected him, but because of the situation he could not safely leave his hut, could not play outside, and could not go to school.

Our distribution partner ROAM Humanitarian moved Lakule and his mother to a village that would accept them and helped build them a new home and send Lakule to school. Lakule and his mother also received a VF100 water filter, letting them have clean, safe water using the water from local wells and ponds in their community. This small family—and their whole community—now has a safe home and safe water throughout the year. 

Arusha School and Daycare

Partnering with other organizations allows us to find the families and communities most in need of clean water and the opportunities it provides.

Our volunteers visited a privately run and supported pre-k through 6th grade school and daycare. This facility serves children and teens who may not have homes or who are unable to afford school. Everyone is accepted and loved by teachers and caregivers regardless of their situation.

Knowing their local community and its families best, the school helped select 30 families of the children they serve who would most benefit from receiving a water filter. Parents and families met at the school, learned about filter assembly and maintenance, and now have clean, safe water.

In a community where children grow and come back to help and teach at the school, clean water and water filters are two more resources to further help these children succeed and have brighter, healthier futures.

Mothers in Gravel Mines

Our volunteers also visited a rural gravel mine site to share aid and water filters with the women working there.

In certain tribes in Tanzania, women are the workers and providers, in addition to the child bearers and home builders. Women in these tribes work all day in often-dangerous gravel mines. Mines and tunnels are dug by hand and few of the women have flashlights to help them see. Workers scrape with their hands to fill bags of gravel, carry them out of the mine, and pile their labors into piles. These women and mothers work six to eight (or more) hours every day for the equivalent of $1— just enough money for them to make one meal for their families when they arrive home.

Filters for these mothers are more than a tool. They’re a resources to bring hope, health, and more financial security to their lives and homes.

Volunteers arrived at a rural gravel mine, helped the women collect and carry bags of gravel, and gave them filters and some money for food. 

Each of these 180 filters is already making a change in each of these families lives by sharing health, hope, and opportunities for a better future. Help us continue this ongoing water project in Tanzania by donating today.