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SAVE WATER INITIATIVE FOR KENYA
— · EIN · sawashi.africa
profile · synthesized from sources

SAWASHI (Safe Water and Sustainable Hygiene Initiative) is a non-governmental organization in Kenya that enhances access to safe, convenient, and reliable WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services in rural western Kenya. The organization focuses on providing safe drinking water and sanitation, particularly for women and girls, and rehabilitates failed boreholes and protects springs. They also implement climate resilience projects through fruit tree cultivation and watershed restoration.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Circuit Rider Program (CRP)
Provides hands-on training to local water management committees in governance, financial management, tariff collection, regulatory compliance, preventive maintenance, and improved billing practices for community water systems.
Climate Resilience for Healthy Living Project
A project focused on building stronger, healthier, and more self-sufficient communities through strategic fruit tree cultivation, distributing seedlings to sequester carbon, prevent soil erosion, and provide nutritious food.
Educate
Initiates smooth learning in rural schools by building community boreholes to provide water and improve sanitation, and provides knowledge to community leaders and school management for project oversight.
Find & Fund
Identifies communities in rural western Kenya in need of safe water and sustainable hygiene, collects funds, rehabilitates failed boreholes, and protects water springs.
Khalakha Community Water Project
Rehabilitation of a protected shallow well by retraining the community on hygiene, training a water user committee, cleaning and disinfecting the well, constructing a well pad, installing an Afridev hand pump, and water quality analysis.
Mayoni Watershed Restoration
A community-driven initiative to reclaim riparian ecosystems, boost rural livelihoods, and build climate resilience by establishing nurseries for vetiver grass, indigenous trees, bamboo, and arrowroots, and implementing spring protection projects.
Mungakha ACK Community Water and Sanitation Project
A comprehensive WASH initiative including drilling a new protected water well, installing solar-powered pumping systems, constructing elevated water storage tanks, and distributing clean water to strategic points, along with public toilets and handwashing stations.
Nabongo Church and Community Water Project
A project to provide clean water through a deep borehole, solar-powered pump, and storage tank, along with establishing a community-led water board for governance and maintenance.
Provide Care
Provides care for communities lacking water and good sanitation to avoid illness, and offers maintenance for projects to prevent breakdowns.
activities · 3 groups

what they do

  • Community-Led WASH Governance and Advocacy 3 activities
    • Advocacy for water access as a community well-being priority
      Advocates at the community level for the importance of water access in promoting health, dignity, and sustainable development.
    • Community partnership in water and sanitation system development
      Engages communities throughout the project cycle—from needs assessment to operation and maintenance—ensuring local ownership and sustainability of water and sanitation systems.
    • Facilitation of community engagement events on water and sanitation
      Organizes sports events, public forums, and workshops to foster dialogue, collaboration, and awareness around clean water and sanitation access.
  • Clean Water Infrastructure Development 2 activities
    • Community-based water project maintenance and rehabilitation
      Conducts preventive maintenance, minor rehabilitations, and full rehabilitation of community water systems—including failed or aging boreholes and wells—to ensure long-term functionality and access to clean water. Works with communities to restore systems originally constructed as early as the 1990s.
    • Implementation of water and sanitation infrastructure projects
      Designs and executes water and sanitation interventions including borehole drilling and equipping, borehole rehabilitation, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, installation of hand pumps and storage tanks, and construction of handwashing facilities and public toilets. Projects are implemented in rural communities and institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities, often incorporating solar-powered pumping systems and elevated storage for reliable distribution.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Capacity building for local water governance and management
      Trains local water management committees and water boards in governance, financial management, tariff collection, maintenance, and compliance with national regulations such as Kenya’s Water Act (2016). Includes retraining on hygiene and water quality practices.
    • Delivery of large-scale integrated WASH projects
      Implements comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) improvement projects, such as the Mungakha WASH project, which provided clean water access to over 3,000 people through a protected well, solar-powered pumping, storage tanks, distribution points, and sanitation infrastructure including toilets and handwashing stations.
    • Promotion of environmental stewardship through tree planting
      Distributes avocado seedlings and engages youth, women, and elders in tree care and harvesting to promote environmental conservation and build community skills in sustainable land use.
relationships · 12

who they work with

  • Anglican Green Movement under the ACK Diocese of Mumias Partner — BISD's leadership includes champions from the Anglican Green Movement.
  • Bio-Innovations for Sustainable Development (BISD) Partner — SAWASHI is proud to partner with BISD in restoring the Mayoni watershed.
  • Facebook Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
  • Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
  • LinkedIn Partner — Social media platform used for professional networking and outreach
  • PayPal Government — Payment platform used for receiving donations
  • Twitter Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
  • WEFTA Partner — Partnered on the Mungakha Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Improvement Project.
  • Water Engineers for the Americas and Africa (WEFTA) Partner — Co-implements the Circuit Rider Program with SAWASHI to strengthen rural water systems in Kakamega County.
  • YouTube Partner — Platform used for sharing video content and awareness campaigns
  • community leaders Partner — Collaborates with community leaders to oversee water projects and ensure local ownership and sustainability.
  • school management Partner — Works with school management teams to assess water needs and co-manage borehole projects in rural schools.