Summary
Highlights
The Nakivali refugee settlement in western Uganda, home to 130,000 people, faces a critical problem with contaminated water from the nearby lake. Dina Nabintu, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, exemplifies the struggle, as she must boil water using charcoal or firewood to make it safe for her family. This practice contributes to deforestation and high rates of diarrheal diseases among children.
Sauda Birungi and Henrio Othieno founded Tusafisha, a social enterprise that produces automated, low-cost water filters. Their large-scale filter system, costing $1,200, can supply clean water to about 900 people. They also developed a smaller, home-use filter that uses granite to purify water, eliminating the need for boiling and reducing environmental impact and costs. Othieno also teaches people how to assemble their own filters and clean the granite for reuse.
Beyond providing clean water, Tusafisha trains women in the community to make and sell these water filters, creating an additional income source. This initiative not only ensures access to safe drinking water but also empowers women economically. Tusafisha aims to embed environmental protection ideas in the minds of young people, changing the tradition of cutting trees to purify water.
Tusafisha has installed institutional-scale filter systems in over 30 schools, leading to improved health among students who now suffer less from waterborne diseases like typhoid. These filters reduce the need for firewood, saving money and benefiting the environment. Each school filter saves 1,500 kilograms of CO2 emissions daily, totaling 240 tons annually, and Tusafisha plants moringa trees with pupils, which absorb CO2 at 20 times the rate of average vegetation.
Dina Nabintu has since acquired and assembled her own water filter. With this filter, she and her family have a better chance of staying healthy with less effort and cost, despite the persistent contamination of the lake water. The initiative provides a sustainable solution for clean water access.