In January 2018, Sister Toni introduced the Sawyer Water Filter to BUWEA, an African Partner in Bukoba, Tanzania. The excitement of the women who received the water filters was a sure sign for Microfinancing Partners in Africa to launch the Clean Water Project. Sawyer water filters turn contaminated water into clean water. The filter is designed to remove 99.9999% of pathogens and harmful bacteria from water, significantly preventing the spread of water-borne diseases. Through small loans to partner groups, the Clean Water Project makes high-efficiency water filters available to partners in both urban and rural settings.
Sawyer Products has distributors based in Africa, making the filters both local and accessible.
2,183 water filters funded!
In 2018 Microfinancing Partners in Africa travelers to Africa carried 218 filters in their suitcases to introduce the filters to all of the Partner groups. Then, Microfinancing Partners in Africa learned that Sawyer Products has distributors in Africa making the distribution of and training for the use of the filters accessible in-country. In addition to the filters received from Microfinancing Partners in Africa travelers, Jamii Bora Trust in Kenya and BUWEA Tanzania have ordered more filters through the local distributor situated in Kenya.
Each African Partner has a designated person who receives the applications and manages the orders for its members.
Both individuals and groups can get loans for a filter. No longer having to pay for medical bills due to water borne diseases, families can save up and pay back the loan, making money available for another family or group to get a loan for a filter.
To facilitate more members receiving filters in a timely manner, Microfinancing Partners in Africa sponsored a matching challenge, raised funds at the African Gala, and pursued other efforts throughout the year. In total we raised $130,971, enabling an additional 2,183 water filters to be placed in the coming months.