A New Era of Clean Water and Hope at Ecole Primaire Cyeru
When clean water began flowing into the taps of Ecole Primaire Cyeru in Kicukiro District, Masaka Sector, everything changed. For years, the school struggled with water shortages that led to absenteeism, especially among girls. The situation was dire, with many students, particularly girls, skipping school because they had to fetch water from long distances or use unsafe sources like the nearby river known as Nyabarongo. Some even brought rainwater or dirty water from home just to get through the day.
The school once fetched water using bicycles from faraway sources for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. But that is now history. Thanks to Water For People, the school now has clean and reliable water. It took a 3.5-kilometre pipeline to connect the school to safe water. Today, 672 students and their families benefit from this system, and the school also has access to WASAC water and rainwater harvesting tanks, ensuring water availability throughout the year.
Transformative Impact on Girls’ Lives
The change has been particularly transformative for girls, who now have access to a private, well-equipped girls’ room. Before, many struggled to manage their menstrual hygiene with ease and dignity, often missing classes or returning home early. Now, they can manage their hygiene comfortably and confidently, which has boosted attendance and improved academic performance.
The school also received handwashing stations, filters, and rainwater harvesting systems that have reduced the spread of waterborne diseases. Children used to fall sick often due to unclean water; now, there are fewer absences, better hygiene, and improved health.
Thanks to Water For People, the school’s infrastructure now includes two large storage tanks, one with a ten-cubic-metre capacity, ensuring a consistent supply even during the dry season. This partnership has transformed the school and revived the students’ hope.
Broader Change Across Kicukiro District
The transformation at Ecole Primaire Cyeru reflects the broader change taking place across Kicukiro District, where Water For People has partnered with local authorities since 2009 to implement its ‘Everyone Forever’ model. The approach aims to ensure that every household, school, and health facility has lasting access to clean water and sanitation services that stand the test of time.
According to Eugene Dusingizumuremyi, Country Director of Water For People Rwanda, the organisation began its WASH interventions in Kicukiro, intending to achieve its ‘Everyone Forever’ vision. By 2025, Kicukiro District achieved ‘Forever’, meaning locally managed, financially sustainable, and resilient systems are now in place to serve future generations.
Achievements and Expansion
The results speak for themselves, with access to public water taps increasing from 54 percent in 2013 to more than 96 percent in 2025. Household water access has risen from below half the population to nearly full coverage, and sanitation services have reached 100 per cent across the district. This is what ‘Everyone Forever’ means in practice; it’s no longer a slogan but a reality.
After the success in Kicukiro, Water For People is expanding to Nyamagabe District, applying the same sustainable approach already working in Rulindo, Gicumbi, Karongi, and Gisagara districts.
Commitment to Long-Term Sustainability
Monique Huss, Deputy District Executive Administrator of Kicukiro, affirmed that the 16-year partnership changed the lives of residents. She explained that some sectors, such as Masaka and Kanombe, once faced water shortages, but today more than 100,000 people enjoy reliable access to water. Clean water and sanitation are among the top priorities, with a commitment to maintaining these infrastructures so that every resident has access to water within 50 to 100 metres of their homes.
More than 24 schools have directly benefited from the project, and the district will continue to safeguard and maintain the achievements realized through this partnership. During the 16-year celebration of the partnership on October 17, Water For People also donated a vehicle and two motorcycles to the district to strengthen ongoing WASH supervision.
National Alignment and Future Goals
At the national level, the project aligns perfectly with Rwanda’s development vision. Gemma Maniraruta, Director General of Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Infrastructure, commended Water For People’s role in advancing government efforts. This partnership directly contributes to the national goal of ensuring every village has access to safe water by 2029. The project reaches schools, health centres, and communities, which aligns with the countrywide vision for universal water coverage.
The ‘Everyone Forever’ model represents a fundamental shift in the way water and sanitation services are delivered. Instead of focusing on short-term projects that fade when systems break down, Water For People builds long-term, community-managed, and financially sustainable solutions.
Exit from Kicukiro and Ongoing Collaboration
After 16 years of partnership and transformative impact, Water For People has officially exited Kicukiro District, marking the successful completion of its ‘Everyone Forever’ model — a milestone that ensures all people in the district have sustainable access to safe water and sanitation services.
Over the 16-year period, Water For People supported the construction, expansion, and rehabilitation of water systems across nine sectors in Kicukiro — reaching more than 100,000 people. The organisation also improved WASH in schools by connecting 34 schools to water supply systems, constructing sanitation facilities, and establishing girls’ rooms and rainwater harvesting systems to ensure dignity and comfort for over 50,000 learners.
Even as Water For People exits Kicukiro, it will continue to collaborate with national stakeholders — including MININFRA, WASAC, and RURA — to strengthen water and sanitation systems, promote financial sustainability, and ensure resilient WASH services in Rulindo, Gicumbi, Karongi, Gisagara, and Nyamagabe.
Across Rwanda, since 2009, in collaboration with WASAC and districts, Water For People has provided access to water services over 1.5 million, with a total investment of over $54 million. Globally, Water For People operates in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, reaching more than five million people across eleven districts in Africa alone.
The organisation’s statistics show that one in four people lack access to safe drinking water, and nearly half of the world’s population does not have access to a decent toilet. Women and girls spend hundreds of millions of hours each day collecting water, and over one million deaths every year are linked to infections caused by unsafe water and poor hygiene.
By addressing these challenges with lasting solutions, Water For People is restoring dignity, promoting equality, and keeping children, especially girls, in school.
