It takes a village...

Over one billion people are suffering needlessly because water is scarce, contaminated, or non-existent. Often there is enough water to save thousands of lives just 100 to 300 feet away.

Where? Underground.

Even during the most intensive droughts in arid, desert-like areas there is often groundwater available. Project Humanity brings well drilling equipment to rural areas in order to provide life-giving sources of water.

Generally, our water, sanitation and hygiene related projects utilize simple systems, which use local materials, require minimal servicing and therefore create more sustainable projects.

These simple solutions make it possible to work in rural areas and easier for the communities themselves to maintain the facilities, thereby extending the vitality of these systems.

Our solution is much more complex than just digging a well. We work to make sure that our projects are sustainable and applicable to each individual community. We are able to make sure that our projects help villages thrive through:

community partnerships

Project Humanity partners with local organizations and the community to implement and design its water projects. Water projects begin with the community requesting a project.

The project is then designed according to local resources using community partners and community input. The community selects the type of project, the local materials to use, and where it will be located.

community investment

Communities must invest in their water projects. This can be done through local businesses, governments, individuals investing in the water project, or it can be done through the communities’ sweat equity.

Community investment and buy-in is essential to the success and sustainability of our water projects.

hygiene education program

Project Humanity uses community-based education and open dialogue with villagers to help overcome local barriers to safe sanitation and to secure healthy futures for villages.

Project Humanity assists communities with building latrines and hygiene related facilities. In order to effectively incorporate these measures, Project Humanity offers training programs to community leaders, as well as households to educate locals about the necessity of sanitation for achieving health.

Using the Community Led Total Sanitation model, Project Humanity’s local team gathers community members to discuss why current conditions are adversely affecting their health.

local water committees

One of the first steps to beginning a project is forming a local water committee. This committee acts as the liaison between Project Humanity, local partners, and its community.

The committee is also responsible for implementing the hygiene education program, determining the community work schedule for well construction, and implementing maintenance and repair programs.

The local water committee must be composed of a diverse section of the community. This includes women, as they are often responsible for the gathering of water in these communities.

the result

Nothing changes a community like providing a source of clean water for the first time. It creates a complete transformation. It has the power to actually stop the cycle of hunger, disease, and poverty.

The entire community becomes healthier. Clean water and sanitation gives people the opportunity and the dignity to lead healthy lives, pursue education, and fulfill their lives to the fullest.

Project Humanity’s projects have an immediate life-changing impact, particularly on women and children, who most often have the daily responsibility of collecting water.

Successful water projects utilize water and sanitation as a tool to create sustainable socioeconomic development in poor rural communities.