A Story of Partnership, Resilience, and Community Leadership

Since March of 2023, Sarawe Primary School and the surrounding community have relied on a remarkable clean-water system made possible through a powerful partnership: Project Zawadi, several Rotary Clubs (scroll to the bottom for a full list) from around the world, and generous supporters including Fred and Kaete Binter. Together, these partners helped drill the borehole, install a solar-powered pump, and build a network that transformed daily life in Sarawe.

From the beginning, the system was designed for more than just the school. It provides water to classrooms, hand-washing stations, school gardens, and toilets—but it also supplies the nearby health clinic and the surrounding village. Not long after installation, the community themselves dug additional trenches, purchased extra piping, and expanded the distribution network so that families living even farther away could access clean, safe water. It quickly became one of Sarawe’s most celebrated development successes.

One mother said it best on the day the system was inaugurated:

“𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬—𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬. 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯.”

For several years, the system ran beautifully—reliable, sustainable, and managed locally. Then the hailstorm hit.

On October 3, 2025, an unusually severe hailstorm swept through the area – destroying the solar panels that power the system. Overnight, the community lost its only dependable source of clean water. It was a devastating blow, especially given how transformative the system had been for an entire community.

Project Zawadi immediately contacted the Rotary Clubs that had helped build the system to ask if they might join together again to repair the damage. Many responded enthusiastically and pledged to help. But the need was urgent, and the community couldn’t wait weeks or months for repair funds to arrive. So Project Zawadi advanced the necessary funds to replace the damaged solar panels, reconnect the system, and restore water to the school, the clinic, and the village—while the Rotary Clubs work on sending their support.

A Rapid Recovery, Thanks to Strong Partnerships

Thanks to the commitment of Rotary partners, the continued generosity of Fred and Kaete Binter, and the determination of the Sarawe community, repairs were completed within just a few weeks! As of November 18, 2025, the system is fully operational again—and water is flowing!

The reaction in the community has been pure joy. Teachers, parents, health-clinic workers, and students have expressed enormous relief and gratitude. Clean water is not simply a convenience here—it is health, safety, dignity, and hope.

A Success Story Worth Celebrating

Sarawe’s water system stands as a shining example of what happens when partnership, local initiative, and long-term commitment come together. It transformed daily life once, and thanks to the strength of this global-local collaboration, it has been restored quickly after unexpected hardship.

The water is flowing again. The school garden is growing. The clinic has what it needs. Families no longer rise before dawn to fetch water that makes their children sick. And the community of Sarawe—together with Project Zawadi, Rotary Clubs, and the Binters—is once again reminded of what they can accomplish when they work side by side.

* The following Rotary Clubs supporting this effort were: Igoma Rotary Club, Northfield Rotary Club, St. Paul Rotary Club, Prior Lake Rotary Club, Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club, Daniel Island Rotary Club, Owego Rotary Club, Cortland Rotary Club, Rotary Club Ratzeburg-Alte, Le Mars Rotary Club, La Conner Rotary Club, and Sebastopol Sunrise Rotary Club.