One Water - Our time at Nyarurama Primary School

Access to clean water can make a huge difference to communities; it can provide education, support female empowerment, bring safety to a community, a chance to work, hygiene, health, happiness, hope, and ultimately a life.

One of the communities we have visited is Nyarurama Primary School in Nyabikenke Village. They are one of the many schools in the Kicukiro district of Rwanda that we’ll provide clean water and improved sanitation to by the end of next year, as part of our “Everyone Forever” programme.

We met a lot of amazing students, teachers and staff members here, but three of them really stuck in my mind as we drove back. So I’ll introduce you to them and try to tell you of their inspiring stories:

Meet Jeannette

Jeannette is a student at Nyarurama Primary School. She was just 11 when our water and sanitation programme started at her school in May 2014. The school has since had a sustainable supply of clean, safe water, as it has been connected to the local water system. This means that Jeanette and her fellow students can collect and drink water from one of the many water-storage tanks, in between lessons.

Having clean water available in school means that young girls like Jeannette can study instead of walking miles to collect it. Jeannette and her peers can gain an education, get a job, and ultimately pull themselves (and their future children) out of a cycle of poverty.

Meet Placide

Placide is a member of staff at Nyarurama Primary School. He is in charge of all hygiene and sanitation programmes at the school. Since May 2014, we’ve provided eight new safe and hygienic toilets, as well as a clean, safe and private sanitation room for the female students.

As part of his job, Placide runs hygiene and sanitation education classes in and outside of school, empowering the young people with the tools to teach their families at home. Under his guidance, the wider community has benefitted from improved health, hygiene and sanitation since the start of the programme.

Meet Samson

Samson is the Head Teacher at Nyarurama Primary School. It was obvious how proud he was to tell us about the progress the school has made, as he showed us around the grounds. He now has 1,114 students who have access to clean water. That’s 1,114 students who benefit from improved sanitation and 1,114 lives, changed forever.

When you create access to clean water, you give children like Samson’s students the chance at an education, you support female empowerment, bring safety to a community, a chance to work, hygiene, health, happiness, hope, and ultimately a life.

What is One Drinks?

One Drinks is the UK’s leading ethical drinks brand. Every bottle of One Water, Juiced Water, Origins or Gin funds life-changing water projects in the world’s poorest communities.  

As well as being approved by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, One Drinks is a Carbon Neutral Company, signatory to the UN Global Compact and one of the UK’s first Certified B Corps.

Our impact

One has now raised over £15 million for water projects, transforming the lives of 3.2 million people. They plan to raise £20 million by 2020 and you can help by purchasing a bottle of One Water, Juiced Water, Origins or Gin – because when you drink One, the world drinks too.

Buy One Water at – www.onedifference.org