In 2015, we started H2O4ALL with a mission: to bring sustainable, accessible safe water to struggling communities around the world. Odile Bartlett and Timothy Muttoo had noticed something missing from many humanitarian efforts in developing countries: an experienced and informed voice that could advocate for community water access.
There were thousands of safe water initiatives across the developing world that failed within a decade, leaving communities with nothing but broken promises and a return to water scarcity. It was time for an organization that would work with communities in need – not just to build water initiatives but to empower community members to manage their water sources sustainably.
We started H2O4ALL to fill that need. Fifteen years later, we’ve partnered with more than a hundred water-stressed communities in more than a dozen countries. We’ve built state-of-the-art water systems in schools, hospitals, churches, and community centres, providing safe water access to hundreds or even thousands of people at each site. More than that, though, we’ve empowered communities through education and lasting relationships, fulfilling the promise of sustainable water access.
2023 was a year of changes for H2O4ALL, as we celebrated our 15th anniversary, made new connections, and faced turning points in some of our oldest partnerships. We’re excited to see what changes 2024 will bring as we continue working towards global safe water access, one drop at a time!
2023 was our fifteenth anniversary and a year of changes. As we move forward into 2024, let's look at what we achieved in 2023.
Last January, we partnered with Reach One Touch One Ministries to implement a safe water project at Life Primary and Secondary Schools. Thanks to that project, the schools now have a safe water system that provides up to 23,000 litres a day.
Finally, we broke new ground in Kibera, outside Nairobi. This informal community is home to nearly two million people, many of whom live in poverty. Since Kibera isn’t linked to any local water systems, most people rely on the extremely polluted Nairobi River.
In 2012, H2O4ALL partnered with Wine to Water to bring safe water to water-stressed areas of the Dominican Republic. With simple point-of-use water filters, we’ve brought safe water to tens of thousands of people in struggling communities – one family at a time.
In 2015, we partnered with Assemblies of God Cuba to serve water-stressed communities in Cuba’s Cienfuegos District. Since then, fourteen churches in the Cienfuegos District have received safe water systems, providing thousands of community members with a much-needed alternative to local water sources.
In September 2023, the water system at Ryabiregnye Village ROTOM Outreach Centre opened up to the community. Now, the seniors of Ryabirengye and their families can rest easy knowing they have access to quality medical care and a reliable, abundant source of safe water.