The Wave | Impact Tour Edition - Fall 2019

THE The Official Newsletter of Tata & Howard

IMPACT TOUR EDITION September 6-16, 2019

Bucket list items come in all shapes and sizes. For some, it’s traveling to a dream destination around the world. For others, it’s dedicating time to volunteer with an organization that fuels a true passion. While for many it’s common for these ultimate to-dos to remain unchecked, two lucky Tata & Howard employee owners had a unique chance to combine their next adventure with a life changing, community-led Impact Tour.

So how were they able to check off not just one, but two items from their lists?

Enter Water For People. Water For People is an organization dedicated to promoting the development of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services to all. Born out of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in 1991, Water For People has grown to be a true leader in the water industry.

WHAT'S INSIDE

Impact Tour Background 03 The Trip 04 Safari 06

The organization operates in nine countries around the world, and works closely with their local governments, community members, and entrepreneurs to implement lasting water and sanitation services. They want every family, school, and clinic to have lasting access to safe water and sanitation for generations to come – a model called Everyone Forever. This two-pronged model focuses on reaching Everyone in a district and implementing the sustainable processes to maintain the long-term water and

2019 Rwanda Impact Tour group & Water For People staff

sanitation solutions Forever.

Tata & Howard has been a longtime supporter of Water For People and has contributed to their mission with company donations and event sponsorships.

To help supporters get a true sense of the work being done to provide safe and reliable drinking water and sanitation services to communities in need, Water For People has created special outreach programs called Impact Tours. Throughout the course of each Impact Tour, participants spend a week observing Water For People’s work in a designated country while also interacting directly with community leaders, local staff, government officials, and NGO partners. The Impact Tour provides a perfect opportunity for supporters to see exactly how their contributions are being utilized.

This year, Water For People offered two Impact Tours. The first took place in Bolivia during the spring, and the second took place in Rwanda in September. Jenna Rzasa, Tata & Howard CoPresident, and James Hoyt, Project Manager, embarked on the Rwanda Impact Tour – landing across the world in Kigali after two flights and nearly 7,000 miles.

"Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

--Mark Twain Tea Estates in Western Rwanda

BACKGROUND Water For People opened their Rwanda office in 2008 in the capital city of Kigali. Two years later they implemented the Everyone Forever model. Since the model’s inception in Rwanda, Water For People focuses its work in the districts of Rulindo, Gicumbi, and Kicukiro.

Rwanda Roughly the size of Massachusetts Total population ~12M (5M whom live in Kigali) People with new water access ~99k

2.1 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER

People with new sanitation services ~133k People receiving hygiene education ~82k Rulindo District Birthplace of Water For People’s Everyone Forever model Total population ~300k People with new water access ~29k People with new sanitation services ~7,300 People receiving hygiene education ~8k Gicumbi District

4.5 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE SANITATION

Steep hills and valleys make water operation resourceintensive Total population ~426k People with new water access ~6,700 People with new sanitation services ~5,200 People receiving hygiene education ~6,700 Kicukiro District One of only a few urban districts where Water For People works Total population ~350k People with new water access ~64k People with new sanitation services ~26k People receiving hygiene education ~67k

MORE THAN 800,000 PEOPLE DIED LAST YEAR FROM WATER RELATED ILLNESSES

THE TRIP Day 1 – Kigali Jenna and James started their Impact Tour in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The day was spent touring the city, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, and spending some quality time with the Water For People team and Impact Tour participants.

Day 2 – Kicukiro District

Sprawling hills in Kigali, Rwanda

A visit to the Kicukiro District included a workshop at the Water For People office, a tour of the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) Water Treatment Plant, and a visit to one of the water points dotted throughout the many rolling hills of Rwanda.

One of the major takeaways from their time at the treatment plant was how clean and modern the facility was. The top-of-the-line facility has a production capacity of 26.4 MGD, with an average daily demand of 15.9 MGD of treated water. Untreated water entering the facility typically has a turbidity of 1,000 NTU and is lowered to 0.2 NTU after treatment.Water For People has played a large role in extending the connections of treated water to communities that previously did not have water service.

Rainwater collection at a Rwandan school is used for cleaning and irrigation

Jenna Rzasa, Co-President at the WASAC Water Treatment Plant

Day 3 – Rulindo District A day in the Rulindo District was packed with field visits to pumping stations, storage tanks, and water points; a trip to meet the Mayor; as well as visits to a school and private home. Through these destinations, Jenna and James were able to take a closer look at water distribution and sanitation.

Rwandan & Rulindo District Flags Known as "the land of 1,000 hills," Rwanda faces many challenges when it comes to water distribution. Because of this, pumping stations and water stops have been placed accordingly.

Water For People hopes to have a water stop every 1,500 feet in rural areas, and every 600 feet in urban areas so people can have access to water without having to walk several hours.

In visiting both a school and private home, the reality truly sunk in around the sanitation issues in Rwanda. According to Water For People, safe sanitation services give families dignity and promote community health by eliminating contamination of water supplies. To combat a lack of proper sanitation devices, Water For People invents new sanitation technologies and empowers sanitation entrepreneurs to provide families with the resources to build bathrooms and reduce open defecation rates.

James Hoyt, Project Manager

Water Pumping Station, Rulindo District

Day 4 – Gicumbi District Day four took Jenna and James to the Gicumbi District where they met the Mayor, visited another private home, and went to a Decentralized Fecal Sludge Treatment (DEFAST) plant.

While they did see improved latrines to aid in better sanitation, they learned that with more latrines comes more waste. To combat this, Water For People has helped to implement

Water Treatment Facility, Gicumbi District

processes to reuse solid waste.

DEFAST plants provide a place for pit emptiers to dump waste so it can be treated and turned into briquettes for fuel and cooking, or fertilizer to be used by local families and farms. In addition to providing solutions to safe waste disposal and waste reuse, DEFAST plants have also created job opportunities and a sustainable business model for local entrepreneurs.

SAFARI Day 5-8 During the final four days of the trip, Jenna and James embarked on an African safari, taking them through stunning landscapes, sprawling fields, and dense, green jungles.

The first safari day included a game drive through Akagera National Park. Like a scene out of The Lion King, the guided drive provided a chance to see animals such as zebras, giraffes, and antelope.

Sludge drying bed at DEFAST plant The second day was spent driving through the iridescent green tea estates and along Lake Kivu.

With views of tea for as far as the eye could see, the steep slopes and high altitude make this picturesque area unsuitable for growing crops, but ideal for the cultivation of tea.

Next up was a chimpanzee tracking adventure through Nyungwe Forest National Park. Splitting their way through a thick jungle of green, Jenna and James were excited to see a handful of chimps exploring their luscious treetop homes.

After chimp tracking, the day continued through the park with a canopy walk 60m (nearly 200 feet) above the forest floor. A mix of stunning views and adrenaline made the 200m (~650 feet) walk across the rope bridge worth it.

By the end of their time in Rwanda, the impactful difference that Water For People has been making in the lives of thousands was crystal clear. Approximately 88 percent of people in the targeted districts have basic access to clean water and sanitation. Waterborne illnesses are down 50 to 60 percent, and school attendance has improved, especially within the female community. On top of all that, more than 150 permanent jobs have been created.

While the progress has been life changing, there is certainly more that can be done. The good news is that everyone can play a part in helping to provide clean water and sanitation to those in need. With so many ways to get involved in Water For People’s mission, making a difference is easy. Visit j.mp/Give2WFP to learn more. .

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID WORCESTER, MA PERMIT NO 143

67 Forest Street Marlborough, MA 01752 T: 508-303-9400 F: 508-449-9400 www.tataandhoward.com

READ MORE about the trip in James' travel blogs!

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