In rural Rwanda, access to clean water is only the beginning of what families need to live healthy, dignified lives. Through its WASH program, 20 Liters in partnership with World Relief understands that lasting change also depends on hygiene education, sanitation and strong community leadership. That belief comes to life through Community Hygiene Clubs — grassroots groups empowering neighbors to care for one another and transform their communities from within.

Every month in Mugesera Sector, more than 2,000 volunteers gather across 33 Community Hygiene Clubs, meeting regularly to learn, share and act. Going beyond education, these clubs mobilize communities to improve sanitation facilities, adopt healthy practices and ensure that no family is left behind.

For Marie Goreth and Anastase, an elderly couple caring for their two young grandchildren, this community-led approach changed their daily reality. The family lives in a small village in Mugesera Sector, where for years they faced the deeply personal challenge of not having a functional latrine. Their old toilet had collapsed, and while they managed to dig a new pit, they lacked the materials and strength to rebuild it properly. With no alternative, they were forced to rely on their neighbors whenever nature called.

“It was shameful for us and inconvenient for them,” Marie Goreth shared. “We had no choice but to ask to use other people’s toilets.”

The power of community.

This daily struggle stripped the family of privacy and dignity until members of a local hygiene club stepped in.

Abadahigwa Ku Isuku, which means Champions of Hygiene, is one of the Community Hygiene Clubs trained by World Relief using the Community-Based Environmental Health Promotion (CBEHP) model and supported by 20 Liters’ WASH project. Meeting twice a month, the club combines education with practical action. Members discuss hygiene, sanitation and nutrition and then work together to put solutions into place for the most vulnerable households.

When the club learned about Marie Goreth and Anastase’s situation, they acted.

Freedom and dignity restored.

“They helped us build a toilet when we could not do it ourselves,” Marie Goreth said. “Our family of four did not have a toilet and depended on neighbors. This club restored our dignity. I am deeply grateful.”

The new toilet was carefully constructed on a solid foundation, complete with a door, roof and a tippy tap for handwashing. For the first time in years, the family had a safe, private and hygienic space of their own.

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Homes are modest, families rely on the land and access to basic sanitation can determine whether children stay healthy or fall ill. It is here that Sylvie, a 55-year-old widow, is raising her four children.

Sylvie lives with a hearing impairment, a challenge that has often made daily life more difficult. Yet those who know her speak first of her strength. For years, she worked tirelessly to care for her family, but one persistent struggle weighed heavily on her household: unsafe sanitation.

The family’s old toilet was in dangerously poor condition. It was unhygienic and unsafe, putting Sylvie’s children at constant risk of disease. With limited income and few options, she had no way to fix it on her own.

That changed when Abadahigwa Ku Isuku a Community Hygiene Club whose name means Champions of Hygiene reached her village.

“The hygiene club helped us achieve cleanliness and dignity,” Sylvie shared. “The Hygiene Club supported me in building a proper toilet. My old one was in very bad condition, but now I have a clean and safe facility with two rooms — one for the toilet and another for the bathroom.”

Together, the club members helped make bricks, install roofing and complete construction. Sylvie contributed what she could by digging the pit herself which stands as a strong example of partnership and agency.

The transformational interventions did not stop with the toilet.

Sylvie’s family also received a handwashing station, a dish drying rack and training in improved hygiene and nutrition practices. She is now preparing a kitchen garden to grow vegetables, helping her family eat more nutritious meals while reducing food costs.

The dish drying rack, in particular, has made a noticeable difference.

“This rack helps me dry utensils properly, keeping them free from water,” Sylvie explained. “Using dry dishes prevents diseases caused by poor hygiene, such as intestinal worms and diarrhea, especially among my young children.”

With new knowledge and practical tools, Sylvie says her habits around handwashing, sanitation and food preparation have changed dramatically. The result is a healthier home and greater peace of mind.

Transformation doesn’t always come from large-scale infrastructure or government engagement. Sometimes, it begins with neighbors coming together extending compassion and sharing knowledge and labor. Through community-led action and the support of partners like World Relief and 20 Liters, families in rural Rwanda are not only gaining access to clean water and sanitation, but they are also building healthier, more resilient futures.

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The Gira Isuku Club — roughly translates to Keep It Clean — is one of 28 Community Hygiene Clubs in Kinoni. The group officially launched on June 24, 2025, and formed after members completed the Community-Based Environmental Health Promotion (CBEHP) Program training, organized by World Relief Rwanda with support from 20 Liters. Today, the club is made up of 30 dedicated members committed to improving hygiene, nutrition and overall well-being, not just for themselves, but for their entire community.

Meeting twice a month, the club blends learning with action. Members discuss best practices in sanitation, food safety and nutrition, then turn those lessons into practical solutions. One of their most impactful initiatives is a community savings plan, where eachmember contributes $2 at every meeting. While modest, these consistent contributions have been pooled into a fund that is driving meaningful, life-changing support.

Through their shared savings, the Gira Isuku Club has already achieved significant outcomes. Members have constructed 15 kitchen drying racks, helping families keep utensils clean and reduce food contamination. Tippy taps and kitchen gardens have been installed at every member’s home, reinforcing daily hygiene habits and improving access to nutritious foods. Each household has also received egg-laying chickens, boosting both nutrition and income.

The club’s generosity extends beyond its own members. Using this fund, the group has purchased three sheep, five casserole pans for communal use and supported two vulnerable families in constructing safe latrines — restoring dignity and improving sanitation for those most in need.

Nutrition remains at the heart of the club’s mission. During the last quarter, Gira Isuku organized a nutrition-focused community event, providing balanced meals to 10 young children and two pregnant women. The meals included eggs, bananas, vegetables, carbohydrates and milk — simple ingredients with powerful health benefits. To ensure the impact would last, each club member received a tamarillo fruit tree at the event, promoting sustainable nutrition for years to come.Club members credit their success to the training, encouragement and ongoing support from World Relief Rwanda and the 20 Liters WASH project. Beyond skills and resources, the program has strengthened unity among members and helped reduce malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women in their community.

Through Gira Isuku, the people of Kinoni Sector are proving that when communities come together in sharing knowledge, pooling resources and caring for one another, they can create lasting change. What started as a journey to clean water has turned into a movement of collective action that is truly transforming lives.

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In the rural hills of Rwanda’s Ngoma District, 61-year-old Pastor Alexandre leads SDA Murwa Church alongside his wife, Eliane, a dedicated deacon. For years, their congregation faced a costly challenge: water. From cleaning the church and washing garments to small on-site construction projects, water was essential – but a challenging expense.

“We used to spend 270,000 Rwandan Francs ($187 USD) every year just to buy water,” Pastor Alexandre explains. “We dreamed of installing a water tank, but the cost was always beyond our reach.”

The solution

Their prayers for a water solution were answered when the church received a 10,000-liter Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS) – thanks to the support of World Relief and 20 Liters.

“This system has been a crucial resource for the church,” Alexandre says. The harvested rainwater is now used for cleaning the church and to support small projects. One of the most unexpected outcomes has been financial. The money once used on water is now helping people in real and tangible ways.

The impact

As the church no longer needs to pay for water, these savings have been used to cover school fees for two students, provide school supplies for 10 children and cover medical insurance for 33 people. The impact is reaching beyond the church walls and into their community.

Before the rainwater system was installed, community members had to walk an hour round-trip to collect water from Sake Lake – a source that was often unsafe. Now, families living nearby can fill their containers directly from the church’s tank. With access to clean water close to home, people are saving time and energy – resources they’re now using to improve their incomes and livelihoods.

To ensure fair access, the church appointed a deacon to manage water distribution. He opens the tap daily from 11:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. and receives a small monthly stipend for his service.

The church’s generosity hasn’t gone unnoticed. Its relationship with the surrounding community has grown stronger, and seven new members have joined the congregation – moved by the simple, powerful act of offering “a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.”

“We are truly grateful to World Relief and the 20 Liters initiative,” Alexandre says. “The training, the water filters, the support – it has all made a difference. We raise our hands in appreciation. May God bless them abundantly.”

***Added note: today in Rwanda, a church must have a rain water harvest system or other source of clean water on site in order to stay open. Your support of 20 Liters helps keep churches open and active in their community.

The post How Rainwater is Fueling Hope and Helping a Church Serve Their Community appeared first on 20 Liters.

Immaculate is a devoted member of the Catholic Church RCC Gitare and remembers when the church’s focus was solely spiritual. “Before World Relief came to our community,” she recalls, “our church focused mainly on spiritual matters. There were no initiatives to support the poor or to promote social and economic development.”

That began to change when World Relief began partnering with her church. One of the most impactful moments for her family came when they received a household water filter from 20 Liters.

“For years, we drank untreated water straight from Lake Burera,” Immaculate says. “I tried boiling it when I could, but we had limited access to firewood or charcoal making that difficult. My husband needed clean water for his health condition, but we simply could not manage. The children in our neighborhood – including my own grandchildren – were often sick with diarrhea. It was heartbreaking.”

The household water filter changed everything.

With access to clean water every day, Immaculate shares, “My husband’s health has improved. Our children and neighbors are no longer sick. We barely visit the health center anymore.”

But the transformation didn’t stop there.

Through her church, Immaculate joined a Savings for Life group – World Relief’s program that equips individuals with the tools and knowledge to build savings and invest in their future. With her first round of savings, she bought a pig. The manure boosted soil fertility and improved her crops. With her next round, she started a small business selling amamera (soaked sorghum), increasing her income and improving her family’s quality of life.

Immaculate is deeply thankful to her church, World Relief and 20 Liters for their commitment to serving her community in both word and deed.

“You have changed not only my life, but the lives of many others. I am forever grateful for this life-changing experience,” Immaculate concludes with deep gratitude.

The post Immaculate’s Story: From Survival to Stability appeared first on 20 Liters.

This was the daily reality for Athanasie, a 60-year-old widow living in Ngoma, Rwanda.

For years, Athanasie lived without a toilet of her own. The impact on her health and dignity was profound.

“The toilet I had collapsed because it was very old,” she recalls. “Every time I needed one, I had to ask my neighbors to use theirs. It made me feel embarrassed, and I knew it was inconvenient for them too.”

What may seem like a small inconvenience was, for Athanasie, a source of ongoing shame and a serious threat to her health.

Athanasie’s cries of despair were answered when the Twitezimbere Community Hygiene Club (CHC) – whose name means “Let’s Develop Ourselves” – stepped in. Drawing on training from World Relief and 20 Liters’ community health programs, the club members mobilized quickly to meet her need.

“The hygiene club helped me in such an incredible way,” Athanasie says. “They built me a brand-new toilet with a four-meter pit. They reinforced it with strong wood, roofed it with iron sheets, and even added a door and a tippy tap. Now I can use my own toilet without shame or fear of being seen by passersby – and I even wash my hands afterwards. To me, it feels like God worked through them because I never thought this would happen for me!”

The entire project cost just 120,000 Rwandan francs ($83 USD) – a modest investment with a life-changing impact. But the club’s support didn’t stop there.

“They also built me a dish-drying rack,” Athanasie adds. “Before, I would just place my dishes on a sack after washing them. That wasn’t hygienic. Now I can dry them properly, which helps keep my utensils clean and safe to use.”

The club is also helping her start a kitchen garden, providing access to fresh produce and improving her diet while lowering food costs. They have even made plans to plaster her new toilet so it will be more durable and also support improvements to her home for greater cleanliness and comfort.

Where Athanasie once felt isolated, she now feels a deep sense of belonging. Though she had never been part of a hygiene club before, she has now joined the CHC herself to help transform her community. With quiet pride she shares, “I want to contribute my little strength as an elderly woman to help others experience positive changes in their lives.”

Today, Athanasie’s story is no longer one of shame and hardship, but one of dignity, health and hope – all made possible through the compassion and commitment of 20 Liters and her community. Together, they are living out the truth that when people are equipped and mobilized, families flourish and communities thrive.

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In Ngoma, Rwanda, Francine and her husband Theogene are raising six children, with a seventh on the way. For years, like many in their community, they struggled without access to clean water. Every drop – for drinking, cooking or cleaning – came at the cost of time, effort or health.

This daily hardship, however, has become a story of hope.

Thanks to the efforts of World Relief, in partnership with 20 Liters, Francine’s family received the simple but life-changing tool of a household water filter. This water filter means they can now directly drink safe water and use it without the added burden of boiling it or paying high prices for clean water – costs that add up when in rural Rwanda, a living wage is about $150 USD per month.

“Before we received the filter,” Francine recalls, “we used to fetch water from the swamp. To get clean tap water, one jerrycan of 20 liters cost us 200 Rwandan francs ($0.15 USD) – and even then, sometimes it wasn’t available. After buying it, we still had to boil it, which meant spending more money and time. But often we couldn’t manage, and we ended up drinking dirty water. That brought us intestinal worms and other illnesses.”

The struggle extended beyond health. “Buying firewood to boil the water was expensive,” Francine explains. “It also took a lot of time – waiting for the water to boil, then waiting for it to cool before drinking. Those who couldn’t afford the firewood would just drink the water as it was, even if it wasn’t safe, which led to waterborne diseases.”

Today, life is different.

“Now, I simply fetch the water, pour it into the filter and drink it right away,” she says with a smile. “It’s clean, safe and saves us both money and time.” The money they used to spend on water and firewood now goes toward household needs – including school fees and supplies for their children.

Francine’s filter has also become a valuable resource for her neighbors.

“Ever since we got the filter, many people come to me asking for drinking water because they know it’s clean. Every day, more than 10 people in our neighborhood use this filter,” she says proudly.

She has also joined a local Community Hygiene Club, where members pool resources to purchase jugs and cups to safely store and share clean water.

With deep gratitude, Francine concludes, “I want to thank 20 Liters for working with World Relief to change our lives. They gave us a simple but powerful tool – a filter – that has transformed our health and well-being. They have truly been good partners in our development journey.”

The post Francine’s Story: A Simple Filter, a Family Flourishing appeared first on 20 Liters.

In February 2025, World Relief launched a significant initiative in Rwanda’s Mugesera Sector. Three local leaders were trained through the Community-Based Environmental Health Promotion Program model, with the goal of establishing active hygiene clubs that could inspire lasting behavior change at the grassroots level.

One of the most inspiring outcomes is the creation of the Twitezimbere Community Hygiene Club (CHC) – a name that means “Let’s Develop Ourselves.” Today, the club has 70 active members and continues to grow in number and influence.

Twitezimbere CHC meets twice a month to learn about hygiene, sanitation and nutrition. But this is no ordinary discussion group. Members put what they learn into practice – and the results are visible across the community.

“Thanks to the Community-Based Environmental Health Promotion Program training, our community has changed,” said Francine Uwanziga, president of the Twitezimbere Community Hygiene Club. “People now work together, take ownership of hygiene and nutrition, and we’ve seen real progress in health and unity. It’s more than a club; it’s a movement of hope.

This year alone, club members have:

Built five new latrines and rehabilitated 15 others, improving safety and sanitation for families.

Installed 30 tippy taps to provide simple, handwashing stations and improve hygiene practices.

Purchased bars of soap for use at club meetings and public handwashing areas.

Acquired jugs and containers for safe water storage, reducing the risk of waterborne illness.

Established five kitchen gardens for families, improving nutrition through fresh vegetables.

Made bricks to build more latrines in the future, ensuring families in need remain healthy.

The change goes beyond health and hygiene.  The club has launched a World Relief Savings for Life groups where community members save and access loans from pooled resources, giving them access to financial resources for personal and collective needs. This financial empowerment adds another layer of resilience and independence, helping families meet both personal and collective needs.

Twitezimbere has become a symbol of what’s possible when communities are equipped with the right tools and knowledge. With support from 20 Liters, World Relief and the CBEHPP model, hygiene education has evolved into a sustainable, grassroots movement – strengthening not only public health, but the very fabric of community life.

The post More than Clean Water: Hygiene Clubs Bring Grassroots Change appeared first on 20 Liters.

Leonard Mporambyifuza, the 48-year-old head teacher, oversees this bustling school of 1,505 students and 101 staff members. Despite the size and energy of the school, sourcing safe water was always a challenge.

“At Karuganda Primary School,” Leonard explained, “we relied on rainwater and a small, community-managed treatment system. But the water wasn’t always safe to drink. Teachers often brought their own from home and our students had no choice but to drink the unsafe water from the rainwater tanks. It was all we had.”

The school’s water woes changed when World Relief provided a SAM2 water filter from 20 Liters.

Now, more than 1,600 people – including students, teachers, support staff and visitors – have access to clean, safe drinking water. Staff members even bring small jerry cans to collect water to take home to their families, saving money they used to spend on water treatment.

But the impact goes far beyond hydration. The filter has sparked a broader awareness around water safety and hygiene, creating a culture of health throughout the community. “Before, students often missed school due to waterborne illnesses and parasitic infections,” Leonard shared. “Now, with clean water available every day, we expect to see fewer illnesses, better attendance and improved wellbeing.”

Leonard expresses heartfelt gratitude to 20 Liters and World Relief. “We sincerely thank you for your life-saving support of Karuganda Primary School and the Kinoni community,” he said. “This gift hasn’t just brought us clean water – it’s bringing social and economic transformation to our area.”

The post A Life-Changing Gift: Clean Water for Students and Staff appeared first on 20 Liters.

Jeanne – drinking clean water since 2012

Thirteen years ago, Jeanne and her husband Gracien became the proud recipients of a 20 Liters SAM3 water filter. Since 2012, the filter has played a central role in transforming their lives by providing clean water and improving their overall quality of life.

Jeanne and Gracien live in the Gahanga Sector of Rwanda, an area that was once rural but has since become a rapidly growing city. Despite this development, access to clean drinking water remains a challenge. In the past, Jeanne’s family had to buy water, with a 20-liter jerrycan costing 2,000 Rwandan francs (about $1.40 USD). Since they used one jerrycan every five days, the cost quickly added up, putting a strain on their finances.

The 20 Liters water filter brought more than just clean water – it brought significant changes to their health and peace of mind. Before receiving the filter, Jeanne’s family was at constant risk of waterborne diseases like typhoid and diarrhea. The filter has dramatically reduced these risks, improving their health and safety. In addition, the money they once spent on buying water is now redirected toward purchasing food, which has improved their nutrition and overall well-being. “The water filter has changed our lives,” Jeanne said. “The money we used to spend on water now helps feed our family, and we no longer worry about waterborne diseases.”

The impact of the filter extends beyond their household. Jeanne explained that her neighbors also rely on this filter for access to clean drinking water. Three of them fetch water regularly, showing how the filter has become a vital resource for the wider community.

Jeanne’s gratitude to the 20 Liters initiative reflects the deep sense of relief and hope she feels, “We are truly grateful to World Relief and 20 Liters for this life-changing support.”

The 20 Liters water filter has not only provided Jeanne’s family with reliable access to clean water but has also empowered them to use their resources more wisely. It has transformed their daily life, safeguarded their health and allowed them to invest in their future – one clean drop at a time.

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