We believe the water crisis is best solved by those most impacted by it - women.
Our Mission
We innovate sustainable, women led, local solutions to basic water problems.
See Our Work In South Sudan Below
See Our Work In The Democratic Republic Of Congo Below
Our Award-winning short film
Ru: Water its life, tells our story best.
Spend a day in the life of a remarkable twelve-year-old girl, Jina Teji. Her world revolves around walking a mile there and back to fill a jerry can of water three times a day, to sustain her family, for whom she is the primary caretaker. Brilliant, beautiful and gushing with joy, Jina grabs our hearts while illustrating the tremendous need for clean water sources in countless villages around the world. We ask the question: How can one little girl's life be changed if she is given easy access to clean water? For most of us, freshwater is a tap away. For others, it’s an arduous daily journey. For every human, water is life.
OUR HISTORY
Water is Basic was Founded in 2006 after religious leaders from across all Sudan came together with one goal, to help their people during the six-year Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The #1 goal of the gathering was to provide clean water as quickly as possible to as many people as possible.
We finished our first well in 2008 and, between 2008 and 2021, installed over 500 and restored over 600 more. Water is Basic was formed as a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization in 2010 to support these efforts.
We believe the water crisis is best solved by those most impacted by it - women.
We innovate sustainable, women-led, local solutions to basic water problems.
Women, now leading our work, are repairing more than 500 wells per year in South Sudan with a goal of 1,000 annually. In DRC, they are engineering and building rain catchment systems at a rate of 20 per year.
“I simply do not know of a better investment for my giving dollars.”
What We've Achieved
Launched an indigenous water drilling organization in South Sudan in 2006.
Drilled more than 500 water wells in South Sudan.
Provided clean water for more than 1,500,000 South Sudanese.
Collaborated to bring water to IDPs in Burundi.
Brought water to the 30,000 people of Kibumba, DRC.
Distributed 20,000 Sawyer water filters.
Now repair more than 500 wells every year.
Produced award-winning documentary Ru: Water is Life. Shown film to public school audiences around the country.
Established the Carry the Jerry road race, raising awareness of the reality of carrying a full jerry can long distances.
Employed more than 100 locals in our water solutions.
Launch the Women’s Water repair Initiative recruiting and training women entrepreneurs to repair water wells in their own communities.
