Living Water International- Rwanda

Living Water International (LWI) has been actively engaged in Rwanda since 2007, focusing on providing safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Their mission intertwines physical well-being with spiritual development, aiming to transform communities holistically.

Key Initiatives in Rwanda

• WASH Program Areas (WPAs): LWI implements WPAs in Rwanda, particularly in the Ruhango and Nyanza districts. These programs are designed to foster sustainable change over 3–5 years, impacting between 30,000 to 70,000 people per area. The approach includes drilling wells, promoting hygiene education, and mobilizing churches and communities to take ownership of WASH initiatives .

• Community Health Clubs (CHCs): To promote hygiene and sanitation, LWI establishes CHCs that engage community members in behavior change strategies. These clubs often operate alongside new water projects, ensuring that communities not only have access to clean water but also understand the importance of hygiene practices .

• Church and Community Mobilization (CCM): LWI collaborates with local churches and administrative leaders to integrate spiritual teachings with community development. This includes prayer groups, gospel literature distribution, and Bible story workshops, aiming to empower churches as catalysts for both spiritual and physical transformation .

Impact and Outreach

• Water Access: As of the latest reports, LWI has completed over 600 water projects across Rwanda. Their goal is to increase clean water access to 74% in Nyanza and 53% in Ruhango, addressing the disparity between urban (84%) and rural (52%) access rates .

• COVID-19 Response: During the pandemic, LWI partnered with Ruhango district officials to implement preventive measures in the main market, serving up to 2,500 people daily. They introduced pedal-operated handwashing stations and promoted social distancing and mask-wearing to curb the virus’s spread .

• Togetherness Village: In a community formed by orphans of the 1994 genocide, LWI’s intervention through a water well project helped alleviate conflicts over scarce water resources. The availability of clean water led to improved relationships, economic development through water sales, and the establishment of a kindergarten, fostering unity and growth .

Engagement and Support

LWI encourages global participation through initiatives like the “10 Days Fundraising Campaign,” where participants abstain from beverages other than water for ten days and donate the savings to fund water projects in Rwanda. This campaign has successfully raised significant funds, directly impacting communities in need .