ABOUT US
We transform lives by providing sustainable access to safe water through your water donations.
WHO WE ARE.
We are a non-profit social enterprise, a water donation NGO that exists to empower and transform lives by providing sustainable, effective, and solar-powered water solutions by enabling you to donate clean drinking water to rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2015, Sunil Lalvani, our CEO and Founder, was moved by the sight of two children drinking water from a puddle by the roadside in rural Ghana. Motivated to make a difference, he leveraged his expertise in consumer electronics to create and implement a solar-powered pump, ensuring a consistent and sustainable supply of safe water to the village. This initiative, named 'Maji' (Swahili for water), evolved into Project Maji, now functioning independently as a pan-African water donation NGO. Over the years, it has positively impacted the lives of more than 300,000 people in Ghana, Kenya, and recently Uganda, by delivering safe water sustainably to their villages.
OUR MISSION.
Project Maji is on a mission to serve 1 million people with sustainable access to safe water.
OUR MODEL.
We design, develop, and implement solar-powered water solutions in water-poor communities.
Failed infrastructure investments in the African rural water sector amount to 1.2 billion dollars, and yet, millions still lack access to water. We have taken on the challenge of reshaping the rural water landscape. Our approach involves a market-based strategy that synergizes entrepreneurship with sustainable development. Project Maji, a non-profit drinking water charity, utilizes business expertise to ensure sustainable access to safe water.
Community driven
Cubes, harnessing the power of the sun
Our work begins when taps open
Ability and willingness to pay
Cracking the rural water business case
HOW WE WORK.
We typically serve rural communities of 1,000 people or less. Those so often overlooked by government and larger NGOs and left without agency. As a safe drinking water charity, we operate using a social enterprise model, whereby every Project Maji site is self-sustaining.
STEP 1 ➜
Identify Communities
We work with community members, village leaders, local governments, and funding partners to identify smaller rural villages (of less than 1,000 people) and/or rural growth centers (of 2,500-3,500 people) that do not have sustainable access to safe water. We rehabilitate boreholes and replace broken handpumps and install a smart solar-driven water kiosk in a bid to make use of existing infrastructure.
STEP 2 ➜
Sustainability Assessment
Before we enter a community, we perform a hydrogeological assessment. All our water is tested against WHO standards prior to installation and we check the recharge rate of the aquifer. We work with identified community leaders to develop a sustainability plan for each installation, including mobile payment solutions to secure maintenance funds.
STEP 3 ➜
Water Kiosk Installation
Once a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the community and local government has approved our plans, we ship and deliver the water kiosks. We work with local contractors to assemble and install the structure. The Project Maji solar-powered water kiosk assembly is completed within a week, watch an assembly video here.
STEP 4
Operations & Maintenance
Our work starts once the taps are opened. We collect water revenue through our e-payment systems, and these secure funds pay for regular site-servicing. Maintenance and repair services are managed by the Project Maji engineers. To ensure full functionality and sustainability, every water kiosk comes with a built-in, remote monitoring system to evaluate the real-time efficiency and performance of all our sites.