Nowhere is this truer than in central Tanzania in East Africa.

A country known for its picturesque Serengeti grasslands and towering peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has, at its heart, a vast plateau of rural outposts where people exist on subsistence farming.

Here, the focus is on growing food for basic survival rather than having a surplus to sell at the market. This hard way of life is perpetuated by unpredictable rainfall and a lack of nearby drinking water and proper sanitation.

To find water, these Tanzanians travel an hour or more to places most commonly used by cattle or wild animals. Besides decreasing the farmers’ productivity, visits to such crude water sources impact the health of their families. Each year, approximately 21,000 young children die from diarrhea-related illnesses due to contaminated water.

TPRF became aware of the situation and has donated $25,000 to WaterAid’s Community Managed Water Supply program. This grant will help provide ongoing and convenient access to clean water for over 42,000 of the poorest and most needy people in central Tanzania.

With the money from TPRF, new water facilities will be installed in areas where there are none. Farmers will be able to rededicate their water-hauling time to growing food for more than their own survival. The clean water will provide better health and hygiene for their children. The communities will be trained in maintaining the water supply and utilizing it for sanitation purposes. Local governments will be included to support these new facilities and to encourage future planning for the most needy.

WaterAid is an international charity dedicated to “improving safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities.”

This is the third grant from TPRF to WaterAid. The first was in 2008.

Photo courtesy of WaterAid.