Dear Friends & Supporters,

As I reflect on another year of work with our team in Uganda, I am filled with gratitude for the steadfast support of this community. 

While we’re a small team, we’ve been empowered to have a big impact because of your commitment to this cause. With folks like you by our side, we’ve helped more than one million people in Uganda gain access to clean, safe, drinkable water. 

And together, we’ve gone far beyond clean water. We’ve extended our work to health, education, economics and more. With clean water as a foundation for change, we are seeing communities transform. 

Thank you for stepping up to create a more equitable future for all, where access to water, healthy homes and big dreams are attainable for everyone. 

With gratitude for you and the work we’re doing together, 

 

Dave Ericson
Chair of the Board of Directors
WaterSchool

 
 

“As we reflect on our accomplishments, let us also take to heart the stories of the individuals and families we serve — their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Our work is not just about statistics; it is about transforming lives and creating a more equitable future for all.”

- John Ochieng, Executive Director, Africa Water Solutions

  • Professor Ponsiano Ocama, Board Chair, Africa Water Solutions, Uganda
    John Ochieng, Executive Director, Africa Water Solutions, Uganda
    Joseph Tumushime, Program Director,  Africa Water Solutions, Uganda
    Sarah Nsonga Lutalo CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Africa Water Solutions, Uganda
    Richard Lau, Executive Director, WaterSchool, Canada
    Tony Woodruff, Africa Program Director, WaterSchool, Canada
    Dave Ericson, Chair of the Board, WaterSchool, Canada
    Gregg McNair, Board Member, WaterSchool, Panama

Our Partner: Africa Water Solutions

WaterSchool works in partnership with Africa Water Solutions (AWS) for on-the-ground implementation of our programs and services. As a longstanding partner of WaterSchool, the AWS team brings unparalleled cultural sensitivity, local language skills, and experience supporting communities across Uganda to access clean, safe water and improve sanitation practices.

Over 70% of all diseases treated in Uganda are linked to a lack of clean water or poor sanitation and hygiene techniques.

People in rural areas across the country are forced to collect their drinking water primarily from surface sources such as ponds, rivers and lakes. 

These sources are often watering holes for livestock, found downhill from latrines, or are catchments for debris — all dangerous contaminants that can contribute to illnesses like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery and hepatitis.

These illnesses threaten the health and well-being of the whole family, and are especially dangerous for young children who too often face the deadly consequences of contaminated water. 

Beyond this urgent health crisis for children, lack of clean water creates a landslide of other challenges for families, including posing a significant barrier to education and a reduced capacity for income generation – two key stepping stones on the path out of poverty. 

Why we start with water

Over two decades of work in rural Uganda, WaterSchool’s programs have expanded far beyond water access. However, we continue to begin each community transformation project with one thing: the promise of clean, safe, drinkable water for all. 

Through simple, inexpensive and community-led solutions like Solar Disinfection (SODIS), Sawyer water filters and rainwater catchment tanks, we provide infrastructure for clean water access that works for entire communities.

On a foundation of clean water, we share habits for health, build local sanitation infrastructure, improve access to education, empower girls to stay in school, offer small business loans and more.

Through these initiatives, families are empowered to lift themselves out of poverty, transform their communities and build a brighter future for their children.

In 2024 WaterSchool reached over 79,000 people with improved access to safe, drinkable water – the foundation for community transformation.

182

Villages, including 15,946 households received training in water purification through SODIS and how to implement long-lasting improvements in sanitation and hygiene practices.

164,443

PET bottles were distributed for SODIS and 162,439 old SODIS bottles were collected for recycling.

13,885

Households constructed new sanitation facilities or improved on the old existing structures to bring them up to a safe standard.

4,272

Children attend schools that were equipped with Sawyer water filter systems, supplying the students and staff with clean, drinkable water at school.

138

Rainwater tanks (each with a 6,000L capacity) were constructed, providing safe drinking water for over 3,450 people all year around.

13,817

SaTo Pan toilets and tight-fitting latrine covers were installed. These initiatives reduce insects and other hosts’ access to feces — thus limiting their ability to spread diseases.

What the number say

Our teams always conduct baseline studies to help determine the efficacy of WaterSchool’s program in the villages where we work. 

Last year, we tracked the incidence of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, cholera and hepatitis, BEFORE we began working with communities and each quarter in the year FOLLOWING the implementation of our program. 

We’re thrilled to see the incidents of waterborne illness drop to almost zero after twelve months of utilizing SODIS and WaterSchool’s training and sanitation practices.

 

*Note: Some people may use other methods like boiling contaminated water, bringing the total percentage of people accessing clean water through SODIS or other methods closer to 100%.

 

This is how you’ve helped transform communities beyond clean water access in 2024. The foundation of clean water established through WaterSchool’s core program has empowered them to move on to significant improvements in education and economics.

13,827

Handwashing tippy-taps were constructed using readily available, inexpensive local materials. With easy access to handwashing stations, sanitation and hygiene improves and the incidence of disease goes down.

142

Village Savings and Loans Associations were established and funded, giving communities the opportunity to seed-fund thousands of small businesses which generate income to maintain their village’s shared infrastructure.

8,100

Energy-saving cookstoves were provided to families. These stoves vent outside the home, protecting families from smoke-inhalation and they use 80% less fuel.

251

Vulnerable teenage girls were supported to stay enrolled in school. We supply tuition and help secure childcare for young mothers.

1,324

Parents and guardians attended sessions on positive parenting, specifically focusing on how to empower and support their teenage girls to stay in school.

623

Girls attend four schools that received Menstrual Health Management rooms and the training needed to empower them to stay in school when they have their periods.

 
 

Jump starting local economies

Kamugoyi, Uganda

In the town of Kamugoyi, your generosity provided seed-funding ($82 CAD) and training for a local Village Savings and Loan Association. With 32 members, the group sought to create economic opportunities and stability in their community. 

With early success, the group turned their attention to farming and processing Irish seed potatoes. They were so successful they received an infusion of cash and now have over UGX 12 million ($4,600 CAD) in capital they use to fund community members' income generation projects, health initiatives for the community and more.


Supporting girls to stay in school

Tororo, Uganda

Talks about real-life situations were hosted for the girls enrolled in WaterSchool’s Girl+ program. The talks touch on relationships, teenage pregnancy and education, and strive to answer the girls' questions in a safe space. The participants were encouraged to work hard and stay in school as a path to achieve their dreams.

Together they also received training in how to make liquid soap. The girls were excited about the new skills, and some have already started making these items at home for their families or to sell.

In October 2022, Dave Ericson, the Chair of WaterSchool's Board visited Uganda with his daughter, Jenna. 

During this time, it was confirmed to him again just how transformational access to clean water is. 

"Clean water truly is the most basic building block of life," Dave shared. "Without it, everything suffers. With it, communities thrive with better health, education, finances, and equality."

In 2024, Dave turned 50 years old and to celebrate, he and Jenna dedicated themselves to the task of running a marathon together. At the same time, they raised money for WaterSchool's ongoing work in Uganda. 

Dave raised $1,000 for each year and by the time he and Jenna crossed the finish line of the Niagara Falls Marathon in late October, they had raised over $50,000. 

Thanks Dave and Jenna for celebrating this exciting milestone with WaterSchool!

When you give to WaterSchool, 100% of every dollar you give goes directly to our programs in Uganda as our Board of Directors generously covers our minimal administration costs. You can rest assured that your gifts are having maximum impact.

 Revenue

Total:
$3,739,000

Expenses

Total:
$3,171,000

Do you have questions about our financial review?
Click here to contact our team.

Caption: (From left to right) Edith Musasizi, Africa Water Solutions (AWS) Board Member and private school owner; Prof. Ponsiano Ocama, AWS Board Chair, Professor of Medicine at Makerere University, and owner of two private hospitals; Joseph Tumushime, AWS Program Director and former school teacher and national examiner; Tony Woodruff, Africa Program Director for WaterSchool; John Ochieng, AWS Executive Director, Lawyer and former magistrate; Asaf Nuwagira, AWS Board member and owner of a large commercial construction company.

Since 2011, Tony Woodruff has been an integral part of the WaterSchool team. Serving as a Board Member and the organization's Africa Program Director, Tony has served as a tireless advocate for clean water and a vital link between the organization's donors and the program team in Uganda. 

Leveraging his skills and experience from a highly successful business career, Tony brings financial acumen, leadership capabilities, creative thinking, problem solving and innovation to the table - propelling WaterSchool forward to serve as many people as possible.

On a recent trip to Uganda, the Africa Water Solutions team presented Tony with a plaque, dedicating the Ndima solar-powered borehole project in the Nebbi District in Tony's honour. 

 

The joy of giving

 

"We sent gifts to our grandchildren through the WaterSchool gift catalogue. We gave life-skills training for young women in honour of each of our granddaughters, and invested in rainwater collection tanks in honour of our grandsons. We appreciate how creative the catalogue is and find it is a unique way to give generously in honour of the people we love."

 - Dwayne and Joan

 

This year, you can join Dwayne and Joan by giving through WaterSchool’s gift catalogue all year round. When you give in honour of a loved one, you can choose to send a personal message to them in an e-card or printed card.

 
 

Share Your Thoughts

At WaterSchool we are as committed as ever to ensuring you are meaningfully connected to the impact you are making in Uganda. We’d love to learn more about you and what inspires you to give. Will you fill out our short survey?

The questions are all optional and your responses are kept confidential. It should only take a few minutes for you to complete it. This information will help us create better communications for our donors and supporters — connecting you more closely to the difference you continue to make.

 
 

Clean Water Changes Everything

Your gift today will go beyond clean water. When you help us provide a foundation of clean, drinkable water, you empower families to lift themselves out of poverty, transform their communities and build a brighter future for their children.

Our promise to you: 100% of every dollar you give will go directly to our work in Uganda as generous donors cover our minimal administrative costs.

 

Thank you for your continued
generous support of WaterSchool.

You are providing hope and health to the families we serve in Uganda.