Project Waterfall is the central focus for fundraising during UK Coffee Week™, and aims to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in African coffee-growing countries. 100% of all funds raised from consumer donations will directly benefit this cause. The first project is providing clean water to communities in the Mbulu District of Tanzania in partnership with our service delivery partner WaterAid.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
- 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water – roughly 1 in 8 of the world’s population
- 4,000 children die every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation – more than malaria, TB and HIV combined
- Access to clean, safe water and good sanitation is a basic human right and together we can make this a reality for those in need. Get Involved
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(Photo: WaterAid/Marco Betti)
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In Tanzania
• Only 54% of people currently live with access to a clean source of water
- On average women and children spend over two hours a day collecting water
- Almost 21,000 children under five die every year of diarrhoeal diseases as a direct result of unsafe water and poor sanitation
The project will take place in Mbulu District, a rural area where marginalised communities who are often tribal live. Mbulu District has been identified as a being among the most in need of access to improved water supply.
Bundaa Joseph, 10 years old collecting water from a traditional water source (see image).
The water is very thick and muddy. There are flies buzzing around, things jumping in the water and bubbles surfacing from the gasses caused by de-composition of human excrement and rubbish. This is a typhoid area. There are four boys at the water source, collecting water to drink and wash their clothes. Ten year old Bundaa Joseph’s family can’t afford to pay for water from other holes, so Bundaa is sent every day to collect water from a stagnant pool.
Bundaa Joseph says: “I come here to play in the daytime. I have no school. I would like to go, but my parents have never sent me. I do not know why, but I am the only child at home and if I go to school, there will be no one to help my parents. I have to fetch water, and graze the animals, wash clothes and kitchen utensils. I use the water here for drinking and bathing and washing my clothes. The animals don’t drink here so it is safe. My parents always get sick from diarrhoea, I don’t know why, but they have to go to the hospital. I’m not happy to use this water. Some people use it like a toilet. Even my friends say I should not use it because people go to the toilet there, but it tastes not bad, just salty.” |
(Photo: WaterAid/Jane Scobie)
A young girl using the broken pump while others wait their turn to fetch water (Photo: WaterAid)
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Project Waterfall is providing some of the poorest and most marginalised communities in Tanzania with access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. The current project is being implemented in Mbulu District in the Manyara Region with the assistance of WaterAid’s local partner organisation, Diocese of Mbulu Development Department (DMDD).
One of the areas targeted is Yaeda Chini ward, a very remote area inhabited by the Barbaig tribe who are mainly pastoralist and the Hadzabe tribe who are hunters and gatherers. Due to the remoteness of Yaeda Chini ward, water fails to reach the Hadzabe and until now they have relied on traditional water sources far from their homes.
Since commencing in April 2011, the project has already made a significant difference to parts of Yaeda Chini ward. Its major achievements include:
- Improved access to safe and clean water to around 900 people through the rehabilitation of 3 water points
- The establishment of 3 hand-drilled wells which will serve approximately 900 people and better protect the communities from water borne diseases, such as diarrhea and typhoid
- A 50% reduction in the amount of time women and children spend fetching water daily
- Providing educational programmes for council staff and community members on how to use and maintain water facilities
The next phase of the project is:
- Completing the construction of the pipe network in Yaeda Chini ward, which will serve the villages of Mongowamono, Yaeda Chini and Endalachi
- Raising awareness about water hygiene
- Empowering communities to improve water project management in the Yaeda Chini and Masqaroda wards
The project has already transformed lives and would not have been possible without the overwhelming contributions from consumers, sponsors and supporters during UK Coffee Week 2011.
UK Coffee Week 2012 aims to raise even more funds to continue this great work in Tanzania.
Click here to see photos from the projects in action so far. |
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