top of page

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As one of several key focus areas, NEU Global has committed itself to identifying the Rwandan communities most in need of access to safe, clean water, and improving that access through the construction of improved water kiosks. Each kiosk, in addition to being equipped with a row of taps for water distribution, doubles as a small shop where community members can sell their goods.

 

To date, NEU Global has successfully completed four clean water initiatives in Rwanda’s Musanze and Muhanga districts, positively transforming the communities of Kansoro and Gahondo where access to clean water was nearly nonexistent:

KANSORO

​

BEFORE   →   AFTER

Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 1.45.20 PM.png
Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 1.45.32 PM.png

  • Project completed: 2013

​​

  • Partners: Permanent partner ARDE/KUBAHO

​

  • Initiative: Surrounded by the volcanoes of Rwanda, people in and around the Kansoro community had difficulty accessing clean, safe water in their region’s unique terrain.  ARDE/KUBAHO completed construction of a new water kiosk. They established and trained a water user committee and facilitated hygiene education in the community. 

​

  • Impact: The initiative in Kansoro provided clean, safe and affordable water closer to home by improving community access.

​

  • The initiative improved access to water for almost 200 households in the area in and around Kansoro.*

​

  • When interviewed, an overwhelming 100% of community members indicated that the newly built water kiosk was now their primary source of water.** 

​

  • The kiosk also dramatically cut down the time it takes for community members to reach water to an average of 15 minutes — a significant decrease from the pre-kiosk average of 33 minutes.**

​

  • With the price of water dropping from 50-200 Rwandan francs to 20 francs for 20 liters at the kiosk, Kansoro community members could also save money by choosing the new improved water source.*

​

  • The initiative also provided some community members who worked on the kiosk with a source of income, since a portion of the project budget was set aside for wages.

GAHONDO

​

BEFORE   →   AFTER

Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 1.49.20 PM.png
Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 1.49.26 PM.png

  • Project completed: 2015

​​

  • Partners: Permanent partner ARDE/KUBAHO and project partner Columbus Ohio Zoo and Aquarium

​

  • Initiative: ARDE/KUBAHO helped NEU Global identify Gahondo as a particularly underprivileged community in Rwanda, where access to safe, clean water bottomed out at 0%.* NEU Global worked with project partners to build a new water kiosk in Gahondo, train a water user committee, and teach the community hygiene best practices.

​

  • Impact: Mirroring Kansoro, the clean water initiative in Gahondo created a wave of positive impact in the community that extended far beyond the water itself.​​

    • An average 67% of Gahondo community members who were interviewed at the new water kiosk said it was now their primary water source.**

    • While community members would normally have to walk about 39 minutes to reach an alternative water source, their travel time was dramatically reduced to 7 minutes with the kiosk. This left community members with so much more time to dedicate daily to a range of domestic, social, cultural, and educational activities.** 

    • The initiative made water at the kiosk, now 20 Rwandan francs for 20 liters, less of a financial burden for community members.

    • Thanks to a dedicated portion of the project budget, Gahondo community members could earn wages working on or at the new kiosk.

    • About 185 community members in Gahondo, as well as 200 people in the surrounding areas, now have access to safe, clean water from the water kiosk.*

​​

*ARDE/KUBAHO data

​

**Independent evaluator data. Data from surveys about water collected were conducted at each of the kiosks. In total, 14 community members were interviewed — 8 in Kansoro and 6 in Gahondo.

KANYAMPERERE and MITOBO

 

BEFORE   →   AFTER

BEFORE - PICTURE IMG_5726.jpg
AFTER - PICTURE D.HEIC

  • ​Project start date: April 2022

 

  • Project completion date: June 2022

​

  • Initiative: Kanyamperere and Mitobo villages were identified as a good water project candidate by ARDE/KUBAHO because of their proximity as boarding villages to the Virunga National Park. For many years, the villagers were illegally entering the park to fetch water from the park’s wildlife water sources. Villagers were in jeopardy of animal attack as they navigated through the park’s jungle habitat, disturbing the flora and fauna of the environment’s delicate ecosystem.

​​

  • Impact: 

    • Approximately 2,010 people have easy access to safe, clean water from the three water kiosks constructed.

    • Currently, 402 families can access drinking water in a walking roundtrip total of 20 minutes. It previously took approximately 1 ½ hours to make the roundtrip. 

    • Before the project’s completion, a 20-liter Jerrican cost 200 Rwandan francs (19 cents USD). Now, one 20-liter Jerrican costs 8 Rwandan franc (1 cent USD). This long-term savings can be used toward school fees, groceries and household supplies and pay medical costs and insurance.

    • Local residents were able to earn a salary while assisting in the project’s construction.

    • Those interested living in the community can work for pay in the kiosk.

    • Community members are enjoying a more productive, safer, and healthier existence.

    • The economies of both villages are flourishing as people move to places with clean water.

    • When interviewed, 100% of the community residents felt the water kiosk would be their primary source of water.

    • The dangerous illegal journey trekking into the Virunga National Park to fetch water has ceased, leaving the wildlife’s water sources unscathed along with the park’s flora and fauna.

bottom of page