Help Nazava Provide Safe Drinking Water to 50,000 Schools!

Since 2009 Nazava has worked with partners such as Kopernik, Social ImpaKt, and Aqua-Danone to provide water filters to over 1000 schools in Indonesia. However, the drinking water problem in Indonesian schools remains large. Learn about Nazava’s Safe Water for Schools program and how you can help impact 7.5 million primary school children with safe drinking water.

In Indonesia, 79 percent of schools lack access to clean water [1]. As piped water in Indonesia is not safe for consumption and other water sources are often contaminated, many children suffer from diarrhea, which causes them to skip school more often than needed. Continuous exposure to contaminated water can also cause wasting. Furthermore, research has shown that dehydration has a negative impact on academic performance [2]. Since safe drinking water is not available in most schools, children often buy very sugary drinks from vendors near the school, which increases the risk of a myriad of health problems including diabetes and obesity. Buying sugary drinks also contributes to single use plastic waste.

Access to piped water is low at only 23 percent, and even that water is not safe to drink. Continued consumption of contaminated water causes stunting and wasting. Over 30 percent of children in Indonesia are stunted, making Indonesia’s next generation only 53% as productive as it could be if stunting was addressed [3].

Solution: Safe drinking water for less than US$ 2.00 per student. 

Nazava Water Filters are affordable, easy to maintain and very durable, making them ideal for use in schools. They have a capacity of 16 liters, providing plenty of water for an average classroom during the school day. Prior to 2021, we had already provided water filters to over 600 schools working with organizations such as Project Child and the East Bali Poverty Project.

In 2021 we partnered with Aqua-Danone to conduct our most ambitious school project yet. In total we provided 1212 filters to 150 primary schools in Lebak Regency, Banten Province. This was a pilot project designed to quantify the costs, and measurable impact that comes from providing filters to schools. In total 34,625 children were impacted with safe drinking water. Survey results, verified by water meters at the school, showed there was a fivefold increase in the average fluid intake per child. Teachers also noticed improved academic performance among their students. Additionally, since Nazava Water Filters eliminate the need to boil water, the project reduces 351.48 ton CO2 per year. All of this impact was achieved at a cost of just US$1.99 per child!

But that’s just the start- Help us impact 7.5 million children by 2027!

Following the success of the pilot project we are aiming to reach 50,000 primary schools, impacting 7.5 million children by 2027. This will be possible through innovative financing solutions made possible in part by local government and CSR contributions. At a cost of just US$0.02 per student, schools may rent the filters or purchase filters in a buy one, get one free scheme. The best part is through the sale of carbon credits, we are able to provide maintenance and spare parts free of charge for life! Learn more about the Lebak pilot project and our financing solutions here.

In 2022, an additional 282 schools received Nazava Water Filters via rental, purchase, or CSR contributions, providing 43,500 children with safe drinking water. But the impact of the Safe Water for Schools Program doesn’t end at the school yard; schools serve as a stepping stone into the wider community.  Seeing the positive impacts of a Nazava Water Filter, many parents and teachers have gone on to purchase a filter themselves.

Join the ripple effect! Contact [email protected] or [email protected] to learn how you can help us reach 50,000 schools!

References:

[1] United Nations Children’s Fund (2020). The State of Children in Indonesia – Trends, Opportunities and Challenges for Realizing Children’s Rights. Jakarta: UNICEF Indonesia. (page 40)

[2] Roberta Fadda, Gertrude Rapinett, Dominik Grathwohl, Marinella Parisi, Rachele Fanari, Carla Maria Calò, Jeroen Schmitt, Effects of drinking supplementary water at school on cognitive performance in children, Appetite, Volume 59, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 730-737

[3]  Khalil, et.al. 2021. “Indonesia: Vision 2045.” Towards Water Security” Water Security Diagnostic. World Bank, Washington, DC. (page 53)