A country rich in beauty and natural resources, Rwanda has made great strides toward reducing poverty after decades of political turmoil that culminated in the 1994 genocide.  However, 16% of Rwandans continue to live on less than $2.15 per day, and just 57% have access to clean drinking water. Indigenous groups like the Batwa face disproportionately higher levels of poverty and discrimination. Batwa people lived and hunted for food in the thick forests of central Africa for thousands of years but were evicted in the 1970s to protect endangered gorillas. Traditionally trained as potters, Batwa face the added challenge of their livelihood being eroded as imported plastic products replace ceramic vessels.

One Day’s Wages partnered with AIMPO – a nonprofit founded by and for the Batwa community – to improve health outcomes and economic empowerment through a ceramic water filter cooperative. The program distributed water filters to Batwa families and offered income-generating opportunities for those who produce and sell filters to the broader community. Given Batwa people’s traditional expertise in ceramics, the initiative uniquely leverages and celebrates indigenous knowledge and skills. Cooperative members are now saving funds monthly; some have even purchased land and animals for the first time! In addition, access to clean water means cases of diarrhea have decreased by 35%. With the infrastructure in place to sustain operations, the water filter cooperative will continue to impact health and livelihoods for years to come.

Meet Anita

As a mother, Anita works hard to care for her family and create a healthy home. When safe water was difficult to access, she did what she could with the resources available to her, even using a wild plant to wash her family’s clothes when commercial soap was out of reach.

Now, a ceramic water filter is helping Anita provide safer water for her family. Previously, they relied on contaminated rainwater runoff. After receiving the filter, Anita and her husband learned how to clean and maintain it, helping ensure it can continue providing safe water for years to come. For Anita and her family, access to clean water means greater protection from waterborne bacteria and parasites.

Anita is also finding ways to strengthen her family’s livelihood. She has begun making and selling small batches of soap at her local market, adding another source of income to her household. Together, these changes are helping Anita build a healthier, more secure future for her family.