Project Waterfall, in partnership with WaterAid UK, began working in the Jabi Tehnan district of Ethiopia in 2018.
Here’s an update on what we’ve achieved during the last reporting period, from September 2019 - July 2020.
We are delighted to announce that Frugalpac, the creators of the innovative Frugal Cup, have launched an exclusive Project Waterfall cup. To support with Project Waterfall’s work bringing clean drinking water to coffee growing communities, the UK-based business will be donating 1p from every cup purchased to the cause.
Bernesh Mekonnen, 40, is a coffee farmer who lives in Mankusa Abdoguma, Jabi Tehnan Distrcit of Ethiopia. Bernesh and her family don’t have access to clean water. They are allowed to get 4 jerrycans of water [about 80 litres] every other day. Not having enough water is becoming a challenge in their lives.
In 2018, funds raised through The New York and LA Coffee Festivals funded 3 Piped System Tap Stands in Rwanda, through our incredible partners charity: water. These tap stands form part of a wider project carried out by charity: water and Water for People which will bring clean water and sanitation to 81,164 people living in the Gicumbi District of Rwanda. Here’s an update on the progress so far.
We are delighted to announce that Frugalpac, the creators of the innovative Frugal Cup, have launched an exclusive Project Waterfall cup. To support with Project Waterfall’s work bringing clean drinking water to coffee growing communities, the UK-based business will be donating 1p from every cup purchased to the cause.
The effects of the water crisis
In coffee-growing communities where the water crisis is most felt, collecting water is a woman’s job.
Today, women around the world will spend a total of 200 million hours collecting water. Tomorrow it will be another 200 million hours.
Some women and young girls can spend up to 8 hours walking, and waiting in line, for water. Water which is often dirty and unusable.
All of this affects both their health and education.
FUNDS RAISED FOR PROJECT WATERFALL EXCEED £1 MILLION MILESTONE!
Since its inception in 2010, Project Waterfall has donated the valuable funds raised through initiative such as UK Coffee Week, The London Coffee Festival and The Coffee Music Project to projects across seven different countries, changing the lives of over 32,000 people in coffee growing communities.
When we visited Uganda in May one of our first stops was with pupils at Rwenthuuha and Kikoda Primary Schools. We discussed the changes that they had seen since new toilet blocks and water tanks had been installed. The students, especially the young girls, were eager to tell us something very important, “I’m not afraid.”