July 2025 Kokelo and Nyatigo Project Update
Water1st’s local partner, KWAHO, is leading the development of two separate piped water systems serving the communities of Kokelo and Nyatigo. Kokelo: Expanding Household Connections Since January 2025, community members in Kokelo have contributed significant labor to complete the water system. Volunteer crews installed the final sections of pipeline, bringing every household within reach of […]
July 2025 Emukoye Project Update
CABDA continues to expand the Emukoye project, extending service to additional villages. As of January 2025: 101 water connections completed in Phase 1 of the project (primarily in Emukoye village), 119 connections completed in Phase 2 (primarily in Musango and Mulwanda) As of June 2025: An additional 50 connections completed in Musango and Mulwanda Total […]
Sept 2024 Emukoye Project Update
Trenching moves forward swiftly in Musango and Mulwanda. The Emukoye project continues to progress smoothly. The water management committee is taking over the operation and maintenance responsibility of the water system. Currently, the committee meets twice a month to conduct business and has issued and collected two months worth of water bills. Also, they conducted […]
Sept 2024 Kokelo Project Update
Teresa now has a tap in her home! The Kokelo project prioritized service to vulnerable households, It’s always rewarding to see elderly residents able to collect water at a household tap. At the time of our September visit, 19 households were receiving daily service from Kokelo’s water supply system, far short of the 148 connections […]
Meet Frida of Emukoye, Kenya
Frida Mumbwe described her vision of water at her home as “freedom.” The announcement of a new water system in Emukoye, Kenya was met with strong emotions—joy, gratitude, singing, dancing, thanks to God, and tears. During a recent visit, Frida shared her experience walking for water and her gratitude for a new water project. “I […]
Youth Spotlight: Global Fellows Honduras Trip
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT: Global Fellows Water1st Global Fellows traveled to Honduras with us to learn about the global water crisis and sustainable solutions. The 14 high school students were selected to participate in a global development experience in our project communities. Global Fellows Carolyn Davis, Colson Struss, and Lake Barrett share their reflections from the trip […]
Highlights of Honduras Water Tour 2023
VIVA HONDURAS! A group of Water1st supporters from Seattle, Portland, Boston, and Barcelona traveled to Honduras with us last month. We visited project communities in Lempira, a rural region of southwest Honduras. The hospitality and warmth of the community members and extraordinary work of our Honduras partner organization COCEPRADIL, as well as the beautiful pine […]
From the Field: Meet the inspiring leaders of Dargah Sharif, Bangladesh
Empowering Community Leaders Meet the leaders of Dargah Sharif, a neighborhood of Khulna, Bangladesh, home to 3,000 people. This committee was organized and trained by our local partner Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK) to address the water & sanitation needs of their community and, in the committee’s words, ‘to reduce inequality.’ Their accomplishments are inspiring. Seeking […]
Decentralized wastewater treatment R&D
Visit the community of Tarabo, Bangladesh: “Now we feel good about our neighborhood.” Only 2% of wastewater for 18 million people living in Dhaka is treated before discharge to waterways Over 18 million people live in the Dhaka metro area, with 4 million living in informal housing surrounding the city. Dhaka is located on the […]
Doña Lidia: We are different now than before. We feel differently about ourselves.
Before the town of San Pedrito completed their water project, Doña Lidia spent her days trekking up and down steep mountain trails to find water. Now their new water system pipes water to every home, school, and clinic—for 24/7 access to safe water, a toilet, and a shower. When Doña Lidia’s community’s project was completed […]
Honoring our 2021 Water Ambassador: Russ Garrison and the Garrison Family
Water1st is built upon the belief that the global water and sanitation crisis can be solved by building a community of concerned people who take simple and effective actions together. Each year, our Give Water Give Life benefit brings the Water1st community together to celebrate what has been achieved, and to chart our course for […]
Youth Spotlight: Why youth board member Lily walks
Too often, I take for granted the luxury of water and overlook the fact that billions of people lack access to this human right. I believe that all individuals deserve the resources and the opportunity to reach their potential. In high school, I was introduced to Water1st, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating the global […]
Empowered women empower women
On International Women’s Day we applaud the women who literally move mountains to make our water projects a reality. These are the women who hold their families together with unfathomably scarce resources, and who spend their days carrying every drop of water their families use. These same women work tirelessly to support our water projects. […]
Dina’s story | water changes everything
Our Founder & Executive Director first met Dina in 1996 in the small mountainside community of Los Sorrianos in western Honduras. As a bright and vivacious four year-old, Dina spent her days collecting water with her mother. The following year, with the support of our local partner, COCEPRADIL, the Los Sorrianos water project was completed. […]
Let’s Build Toilets People Will Use
Dezenove de Outubre, Mozambique is located in the Cabo Delgado region, on the side of a paved road to Tanzania, where several long-distance buses make pit stops each day. During a 2017 visit, one community member told me that he is ashamed when the buses stop, as it allows outsiders to see how they live. […]
People Without Clean Water Need Smart Investments
In remote and impoverished communities around the world, I’ve heard new water systems described as a dream come true, winning the lottery, and God touching the Earth. There is no under-estimating the significance of the end to the all-consuming daily walk for water. Over 2 billion people still lack access to water that is safe […]