The Water Crisis in Uganda | 2023 At A Glance | Girl+ | Keeping Girls in School | Paul’s Story | Financial Review | Building a Legacy | Take our Survey

Welcome!

Hello WaterSchool friend,

Every now and again someone asks me about our name: WaterSchool. 

For many, thinking about clean water access conjures ideas of digging wells. 

And while wells are great, we've always known that a practical solution like that will only be effective long term if the community using it is equipped with the knowledge and skills to use it and maintain it. We believe that people with knowledge will be their own solution to the challenges they face every day. 

That's why, for over 20 years our primary focus has been on education. To date, we've reached over one million people with the knowledge they need to live healthier lives through clean water access programs, hygiene training and sanitation skill building. Knowledge and skills are what makes solutions sustainable.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing that a person empowered with knowledge is a powerful force for change.

We can't do this work without you and hope you enjoy reading about the difference you've made in our latest Annual Report.

Sincerely,

Access to clean water is a basic human right. In Uganda, where WaterSchool works, universal access to clean water was once a dream — and now with your help, we are making it a reality.

The water crisis in Uganda

Millions of people in Uganda still do not have access to clean, safe water. They are forced to drink water out of stagnant ponds and streams that are shared with wildlife and livestock, leaving them extremely vulnerable to waterborne illnesses like diarrhea, typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. 

When people don't have access to clean water, limited funds go towards medical bills, kids miss school, parents miss work, and entire communities struggle to grow.

Here's what we are doing about it

Through simple, inexpensive and sustainable solutions, we empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty. WaterSchool’s grassroots approach first equips communities to access safe, clean drinking water for all. Alongside water access and extensive training in sanitation and hygiene techniques, WaterSchool transforms communities by addressing all the components of health — from education to economics, social structures to environmental health.

Where We Work

Today, WaterSchool works in partnership with Africa Water Solutions to support communities where water access is low and need is high. We are putting your generous support into action in 12 districts across Uganda.

Over the past six years, you have helped 500,000 people access clean, safe water and learn life-changing skills to dramatically improve hygiene and sanitation.

With your generous support fueling our work, we partnered with 184 new communities in Uganda — reaching 16,403 households. That’s approximately 82,000 people! These households gained access to clean, safe water, participated in our signature hygiene and sanitation training, and more. 

Here's a snapshot of what we did together…

Clean Water Access:

Access to clean, safe water is the foundation upon which all other health is built. Your generosity equipped thousands of people with access to reliable safe water sources this year.

When we first started working with these 184 communities in January 2023, only 6% of people had treated drinking water available. With your steadfast support last year, by December 2023, 95% of households had access to clean, safe water.

Economic empowerment and sustainability:

The overall objective of the Girl+ program is to reduce teen pregnancy by 85% through community interaction and education. The message is “Respect our Girls!” 

In addition to the community engagement with politicians, schools, police and community workers, we sponsor vulnerable teenage girls who are at extreme risk of harm. 

We now have 251 sponsored girls in 2024 – a big increase from 2023. These are extremely vulnerable girls and some are already teen mothers. Working with the girls’ families, WaterSchool Canada and Africa Water Solutions pay for school fees, supplies, provide counselling in camps during school holidays and support each girl as they develop a life plan and accompanying goals. We aim to build up self-esteem to empower the girls to be mentally strong as they navigate being a young woman in their community.

The Girl+ program is separate from the rest of our work and has its own staff team. About 20% of all of WaterSchool’s spending is directed to the Girl+ program.

For years, you have championed young women and girls in Uganda through WaterSchool's Menstrual Hygiene Management program. For girls in Uganda, having the resources and privacy they need to manage their periods at school can be the difference between dropping out or staying in school longterm. 

This year, you helped to build four new Menstrual Hygiene Rooms that made coming to school every day safe for hundreds of girls. These rooms are stocked with clean clothes, painkillers, reusable pads, clean water and soap for washing up and a place to lie down.

For Mr. Kibondwe Paul, a resilient 72-year-old man, accessing clean, safe water has long been a challenge for his family. His wife would make the hour-long journey to collect water. However, the water was contaminated, and as it was untreated, the family would often experience frequent bouts of illness.

This year, everything changed.

Paul's family participated in WaterSchool's signature hygiene and sanitation training and learned the basics of Solar Disinfection. His home was also outfitted with a rainwater collection tank.

Because generous people like you believe that access to clean, safe water is everyone's right, illness is no longer a common occurrence for Paul's family. They live in peace and good health, looking ahead to the bright future before them.

 When you give to WaterSchool, 100% of every dollar you give goes directly to our programs in Uganda as our Board of Directors generously covers our minimal administration costs. You can rest assured that your gifts are having maximum impact.

Do you have questions about our financial review? Click here to contact our team.

Recently, longtime donors and champions, Richard and Vanessa Lau, let us know that they include WaterSchool in their will. Their hope is that by sharing their story, other WaterSchool champions will also choose this easy way to make a gift that will have an impact for generations to come.

Leaving a gift in your will for WaterSchool is an easy way to leave a legacy of health and hope for generations to come.

Recently, we've been reaching out to our most committed supporters and champions to learn more about you! 

We've invited you to fill out a short survey by mail and by email. In case you missed it, you can click the button below. The information you share will help us create better communications for our donors and supporters in the future, ensuring you are meaningfully connected to the impact you are making in Uganda through your generosity and encouragement.

The questions are all optional and your responses are kept confidential and should only take you four minutes to complete.

You are providing hope and health to the families we serve in Uganda.