U.S. Government and Water For All: Making A Difference 

The United States Agency for International Development, the foreign aid arm of the U.S. government, is one of Water For All’s largest donors. This past year, Water For All has donated 110 USAID-funded water pumps, improving access to clean drinking water for more than 160,000 people in Malawi, Zambia and Kenya. Read a few stories of the wonderful impact that access to clean drinking water is having on so many lives.

Solar Pump Purifies Water at School Sponsored by Oprah’s Angel Network

"Having access to clean drinking water at a school is as critical as having pencils, books and committed teachers,” said Gregg Sherkin of Oprah's Angel Network, a grantmaking organization founded and led by Oprah Winfrey. "The solar water purification system Water For All and its partners supplied to the Seven Fountains School is essential not only for the well being of the school but also the community which utilizes the school after hours and on weekends."

American Teenagers Learn About Water….and So Much More

In June, Water For All President Jill Rademacher had the pleasure of hosting a group of students and teachers from the Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC on a week-long service-learning trip to Kenya. The highlight of the trip was a three-day visit to Sekenani Primary School located just outside the gate to the famous Maasai Mara, where Water For All had donated a solar pump and storage tank sponsored by Virgin Atlantic. Daisy Zeijlon, a Georgetown Day School student, was kind enough to share with her story of her visit to Sekenani.

Fun and Sun in South Africa

In early November, Water For All donated a Fun Pump to the Mokakana Primary School in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The school serves more than 400 children from the nearby village of Mafikeng, a remote town of just 2000 households. Before the Fun Pump was installed, the school had relied on weekly delivery of water in tanks which did not provide enough water for the school children and their teachers.

"Having the water pump system has made life so easy. We are able to assist the feeding scheme with vegetables from the garden, keep the classrooms clean and also stay healthy," said Mrs. Dire, a teacher at the school. "We used to send the kids during break and before school starts to fetch water for the day. Now learners now have enough time to play and relax. The tank is always full. You can come anytime to collect water," she said. Mrs. Dire also said that they use the water to wash their hands and for cooking.

Tanzanian NGO Partners with Water For All

Charles Zacharia, wanted to work with Water For All because its "mission and objectives are in line with of that of SAWA to support the needy and marginalized with WASH services."

Water For All collaborates with local and international partners on site selection, education and training in hygiene, sanitation and other activities inked to water. In Tanzania, we are fortunate to partner with Sanitation and Water Action (SAWA), an NGO with rich expertise and experience of national professionals in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. SAWA is assisting Water For All with the identification of schools and communities which need a water supply in the Dar Es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Learn more about our partnership with SAWA.

Give the Gift of Water

This holiday season, please consider giving the gift of water. In the past year, Water For All has improved access to clean water for more than 160,000 people, thanks to generous donors like you. We hope you will encourage your friends and family to give the gift of water in your name.

Change For Children Provides Water for Schools in South Africa

Change for Children is the "onboard charity" of Virgin Atlantic Airways, where passengers donate loose change or foreign currency to a designated nonprofit organization working in one of the airline's destinations. The airline chose Water For All to receive 100 percent of the donations collected in August - £48,419.85 (more than USD79,000). Water For All also benefited from increased visibility due to a special article about our work in the Virgin Atlantic Airways in flight magazine and announcements made by cabin crews on every flight.

Geoff Hopkins, Managing Director, Water For All

Water For All has provided access to clean water to hundreds of schools and communities throughout Africa since 2004, but none of this would have been possible without the talented people on our team. As part of our ongoing series of interviews with our staff, this month we introduce Geoff Hopkins, Managing Director of Water For All. Best part of his job? "Visiting sites and seeing the difference clean water makes."

Power of Wind Provides Water

Vuyani Junior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape of South Africa literally had no water source nearby. Given its windy locale, Water For All decided to install a wind turbine water pump at the school. Nomasa Hlalayethwa, a student at the school, said, "The water has changed a lot at our school. Now we have water to cook, and to drink and to wash our classrooms. That meant a lot because we are not suffering anymore."