Clean Water for Arusha, Tanzania amid Political Unrest
Bringing Clean Water to Arusha, Tanzania: LifeStraw and AguaEmpowers Unite
In Tanzania, access to clean water remains one of the country’s most urgent challenges. According to Tanzania’s national health data, waterborne diseases such as malaria and cholera account for more than half of all reported illnesses in the country. Many communities rely on groundwater wells that are located near waste drainage systems or agricultural runoff, allowing contaminants to seep into the water supply. When this happens, families often turn to rivers and ponds where water is polluted with bacteria or human waste.
The consequences extend far beyond illness. In households where money is limited and women and girls must spend hours each day walking long distances to collect water, they face the risk of harassment or assault. A study by the Tanzanian Gender Networking Program (TGNP) found that the lack of safe, sufficient, and affordable water has contributed to higher rates of gender-based violence and increased school dropout rates among girls.
To help address this issue, We formed a partnership with LifeStraw. Together, we delivered 200 LifeStraw water filtration kits to The School of St. Jude, a registered charity in Tanzania that provides free, high-quality education to children. While students have access to clean water during the school day, many return home to families who do not. This partnership aims to extend the benefits of clean water beyond the classroom and into the community.​
70 AguaEmpowers volunteers from Alameda High School came together to assemble sanitation kits containing one LifeStraw Personal Water Filter and handwritten notes of encouragement in Swahili. Each note carried a message of hope and connection, reminding families in Tanzania that they are supported from across the world.
One volunteer said “This is the first time I’ve seen so many students at Alameda High passionately come together with a common goal, which is to use LifeStraw’s sustainable technology to prevent waterborne-illnesses in developing areas.”
Impact
Each LifeStraw can filter up to 1,000 gallons of water, providing a total of 200,000 gallons of clean drinking water for 200 families over a five-year period. The impact is clear. With reliable access to safe water, families experience fewer illnesses, students spend more days in school, and communities grow stronger and healthier.
A Glimpse Inside our Packing Event!
At the Post Office!
