top of page

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

Water, sanitation and hygiene are essential for the health and holistic well-being of children, their families, and communities. Clean and safe water supplies near homes reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and decrease the time needed to collect water. This ensures more water is available for washing and cleaning. With less time spent collecting water, children have more time for school or play, and parents, especially mothers have more time to generate income for their households. 

Clean and safe toilets are more likely to be used by children. When combined with soap and water for handwashing, these facilities help families stay healthier and reduce disease spread. Extending WASH programs to schools embeds sanitation and hygiene behaviors in young children, supporting lifelong healthy habits. Health care centers equipped with quality WASH facilities are safer for both staff and visitors, leading to improved health outcomes and higher quality care for the community. 

Clean Water

All households should have access to nearby clean water. AEE Rwanda's project provide clean water through:

  • Improving natural water sources to improve water accessibility and quality.

  • Constructing public water fountains and kiosks

  • Building rainwater harvesting tanks at early childhood development centers and schools.

  • Supplying dam sheets for water run-off capture and storage, used in agriculture projects

  • Providing water purification tablets as a last resort.

WASH Water Source_edited.jpg

Sanitation and Hygiene

AEE Rwanda’s sanitation projects aim to help households understand sanitation and hygiene and gain access to essential sanitation products. Effective sanitation requires both knowledge of hygiene practices and the means to apply that knowledge. AEE Rwanda mobilizes communities through hygiene clubs, either by creating new groups or working with existing savings groups. Through intra-group savings and loans, members can upgrade their toilets and purchase sanitation and cleaning supplies. 

AEE Rwanda provides training to selected local business owners in sanitation and supports their businesses to supply sanitation products. We also collaborate with early childhood centers and schools to ensure adequate toilets are available for students and that handwashing facilities are usable and accessible. 

bottom of page