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Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
Water, sanitation, and hygiene are essential for the health and well-being of children, their families, and communities. Access to clean, safe water supplies close to home reduces the incidence of waterborne diseases and ensures more water is available for drinking, washing, and cleaning. As children and women typically bear the responsibility of fetching water, closer supplies give children more time for school or play, while women, particularly mothers, gain more time for productive activities.
Children are more likely to use toilets that are clean and safe. Improved sanitation facilities, including soap and water for hand-washing, mean that families stay healthier and reduce the spread of diseases. Extending WASH programs to schools helps instill sanitation and hygiene behaviors in young children, fostering lifelong healthy habits. Healthcare centers equipped with quality WASH facilities provide a safer environment for both staff and visitors, leading to better health outcomes and higher-quality care for the community.
Clean Water
All households should have access to nearby clean water, as it is essential for health, sanitation, and well-being. AEE Rwanda’s projects provide clean water by improving natural water sources to enhance both accessibility and quality. We construct public water fountains and kiosks to serve communities, particularly in rural areas, ensuring reliable access. We build rainwater harvesting tanks at early childhood development centers and schools, providing a sustainable water source for children and students. Through our agricultural initiatives, we supply dam sheets for capturing and storing water runoff, supporting farming activities and boosting local food security. When no other option is available, we distribute water purification tablets as a last resort to guarantee safe drinking water.
Sanitation and Hygiene
AEE Rwanda’s sanitation projects aim to empower households with the knowledge and resources to improve sanitation and hygiene practices. Effective sanitation requires both an understanding of hygiene and the means to implement that knowledge. AEE Rwanda mobilizes communities through hygiene clubs, either by creating new groups or partnering with existing savings groups. Through intra-group savings and loans, members can upgrade their toilets and purchase sanitation and cleaning supplies. We also provide training to selected local business owners in sanitation and support them to supply essential sanitation products. Additionally, we collaborate with early childhood centers and schools to ensure that adequate toilets are available for students and that hand-washing facilities are functional and accessible.
Stories from WASH
