Two ways of writing about the same work. News covers milestones, launches and updates. Impact stories dwell on the people and the outcomes at the sites.
A look back at a year of hard work and important milestones on the WaterStarters journey, and where things go from here.
The WaterStarters franchise and partners come together in Kajiado County for the official launch of the first site.
A short piece on collaborative, human centered design at a WaterStarters site, and what a design process actually looks like in the field.
A moment of celebration and progress: the pump for the second borehole is in the ground, and more households can be reached.
A behind the scenes note from Kennedy Omwaka and Jamlick Mutie on what a nerve wracking week of drilling actually feels like.
Months of consultations, discussions, and patience come together with the first franchise contract signed and the first site under way.
Amref Flying Doctors and FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, sign the agreement that sets the WaterStarters franchise on its way.
The road to a running water programme turned out to be a bumpy dirt road, not a highway. A short piece on what that has taught the team.
A short interview with Bernard Verburg, CEO of MegaGroup, on why the WaterStarters project matters to a water technology company.
A conversation with Lydia at Kumpa, months after the first borehole opened and safe water became a normal part of the day.
Kennedy, our Kenyan project leader, on what makes the WaterStarters programme different from other water projects he has worked on.
A short piece on why the water crisis, more than any other single issue, is the most immediate threat facing communities and ecosystems.
Before Kumpa, we walked five hours some days. Now the walk is a few minutes and the water is safe. The women decided the kiosk hours together, and that mattered.Community member, KumpaKajiado County
Owning the site changed how the community treats it. It is not a donor thing. It is ours. When something breaks, we fix it, and the platform helps us with the spares.Franchisee, NaserianKajiado County
Every launch, we run hand washing sessions. Six months later, we come back and check, and the message tends to stick when the water is right there.Amref community health workerEnchorro site launch
The planner told us Orinie would be marginal. We adjusted the tariff mix and the pumping hours, and it works. The model saved us from a poor site.WaterStarters engineering teamOrinie planning cycle