Project

PROJECT – Year: 2021 – Country -Africa

In 2021, the WISE project took off in Tanzania’s Moshi District, reaching four wards, each with 40-50 households. The villages had different water sources depending on their location, making water management a unique challenge for each community.

To tackle this, twelve young women from four villages were trained over two-and-a-half days to become Water Ambassadors. They learned to apply the AmriTAU protocol, which included surveying households on water treatment and storage practices, as well as using sensors to monitor water quality.

Women and girls were chosen for this role because they are traditionally responsible for managing water in their homes. By training them as Water Ambassadors, the project empowered them to take charge of water safety in their communities. The research team followed and supported the women in testing the protocol, ensuring they were fully prepared to carry out the work on their own.

The impact has been profound. Communities are now benefiting from cleaner, safer water, which has led to better livelihoods and new economic opportunities. This project proves that when women are empowered to lead, entire communities thrive, creating lasting change in both health and economic resilience.

PROJECT – Year: 2022 – Country -India

In 2022, the WISE project expanded to the villages of Dongarampur and Kuruvakurda in Raichur District, Karnataka, reaching around 3,600 individuals across 700 households, where cotton and rice farming are the main livelihoods. Located on the Indian Deccan Plateau, these communities rely on the Krishna River for both irrigation and drinking water. Their primary water sources include three government-provided Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters, managed by local leaders, along with piped water connections fed by a combination of Krishna River water and local borewells.

This initiative focuses on improving water quality and sanitation practices within these villages by empowering local women as Water Ambassadors. These Ambassadors, trained to monitor water quality, play a key role in ensuring access to clean water for their communities. By actively involving the community and utilizing technology, the project creates a scientific database for sustainable water solutions while promoting accountability and transparency.

This project exemplifies how empowering women can drive meaningful change, fostering sustainable development and stronger communities. Through collaboration and a shared commitment to improving water access, the WISE project continues to create lasting impacts on both individual lives and the broader community.

PROJECT – Year: 2022 – Country -India

In January 2022, the WISE project was officially launched in Nellarachal Village, Wayanad district, marking a significant step in promoting sustainable water governance and women’s empowerment. As part of this initiative, five women from the local community were selected and underwent an intensive one-month training program to become Water Ambassadors. Their training, rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern water management techniques, equipped them with the skills to monitor and maintain the water quality in their village.

These Water Ambassadors were trained to use the “AmriTAU Protocol,” developed in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, which includes both a community survey module to assess local water practices and a water quality monitoring module for accurate, scientific data collection. Armed with this innovative protocol, the Water Ambassadors began their crucial work, monitoring and testing the water quality in 500 households for a continuous period of four months.

Their responsibilities included regular water testing, identifying sources of contamination, and ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water. By empowering these women with knowledge and responsibility, the WISE project not only enhanced the health and safety of the village’s water resources but also reinforced the role of women as stewards of their environment, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for the community.