Every project we take on is informed by what will actually be effective for the people it's meant to benefit.
How do we know?
We ask them. And we listen.
Instead of parachuting in, constructing a water source, and then moving on, we work hand in hand with the people we serve to ensure our solutions continue to work for them.
Water for a year is great. But water for a lifetime? That's a game changer.
Our model is designed with this in mind. We don't just build water systems. We build and manage resources to ensure that communities never have to worry about water again.
We meet with potential communities to discuss every detail and answer every question about our water systems. Community members then vote for the project to proceed or not.
We upgrade existing water sources or drill new ones. We install a solar-powered pump, build raised storage tanks, construct community water points, and install a solar powered digital payment system.
Our water systems are largely automated and we are able to monitor them remotely. Local agents help with general upkeep and our technician is there to respond immediately to any fault. Our goal is to ensure that water is available 24/7/365.
The revenue we collect is first used to operate and maintain the water systems. As revenue grows over time, we reinvest any profits to expand existing systems or build new ones, thereby continually increasing access to clean water.
For every water system we operate, Water Compass has a local agent in the community, who is a key partner for us.
Their main responsibilities are to:
Once enough projects are running, the entire enterprise is self-sustaining, and our impact compounds.
The more communities we serve, the more communities we can serve, and so on, and so on.
Even when clean water becomes available, the lack of toilets and hygiene means that diseases will persist.
That’s why our programs also include the promotion of improved sanitation and hygiene.
We partner with local builders and entrepreneurs to help communities and households build toilets and improve sanitation on a wide scale.
Our teams also go door-to-door in partner communities to educate all ages on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. This isn't a one-time event; we follow-up and continually support households.
We work in schools to ensure that future generations learn and practice good hygiene behaviors from an early age.
We also focus on menstrual hygiene management for the older students to reduce stigma and keep girls in school.
Water Compass has truly brought something so special to Uganda. Their solar-powered water stations are wonderful and the payment system they use makes operation and maintenance so much easier. Our people are so lucky to have them working in Gomba district.
Our approach would not be as efficient or effective as it is without our dedicated agents.
By helping to maintain our water systems and acting as the primary points of contact in the communities we serve, they are indispensable members of our team. We couldn’t achieve what we do without them.
Nalongo – an honorific name meaning “mother of twins”- is Water Compass’ local agent for our solar powered water supply system in the village of Mbirizi in central Uganda.
As an agent, Nalongo is responsible for selling and loading credit onto users’ tokens, keeping the water station clean, and informing Water Compass of any issues which arise.
But Nalongo is more than just an agent, she is a partner and has a stake in the water system working.
Every month, she receives a 10% commission of the water credit she sells...
