Tapping into Hope - Christianity Today

The solar-powered solution changing lives in Africa.

This article appears in the November/December issue of Christianity Today. Journey with us to Mbili, Tanzania, where a single solar-powered pump is turning scarcity into abundance. You can be part of this transformation.

As dawn broke over Mbili, Tanzania, Agnes Mwaluko began each new day with a familiar burden. Many parents may talk through schedules and chores over breakfast, but this mother of six faced a more fundamental challenge: keeping her family alive.

Every day, Mwaluko would walk several kilometers to fetch clean water. Water wasn’t just scarce in Mbili—it was a treacherous necessity that often carried harmful bacteria. Stomachaches, diarrhea, and persistent sickness were common, making the water-gathering even more challenging. In this endless cycle to meet their most basic need, Mwaluko was left with little energy to otherwise care for her family.

This story echoes across villages in sub-Saharan Africa. Every hour, over 100 people in the region die from illnesses linked to contaminated water. To grasp the scale of this crisis, imagine the entire population of both the United States and the United Kingdom—just over 400 million people—without access to clean water.

The effects of water scarcity ripple far beyond immediate health concerns. The daily struggle for water robs millions of their chance at education and economic stability. While the impact is widespread, it falls hardest on the most vulnerable: women and children.

Mothers like Mwaluko, consumed by water-gathering, have no time for income-generating work. Women and girls face increased risk of rape and sexual violence as they walk for miles each day. School-aged children miss classes regularly to help fetch water or recover from illnesses. Young children face grave risks from waterborne diseases.

The quest for clean water isn’t just about quenching thirst—it’s about unlocking human potential. And for millions, this life-changing resource is trapped just beneath their feet.

For Mwaluko and her children, a life beyond water scarcity seemed unimaginable. But then came new technology that disrupted their lives, altering them for the better—forever.

On December 21, 2023, Innovation: Africa installed a solar-powered water pump in Mbili. Overnight, Mwaluko’s life was no longer controlled by daily treks, which freed her to focus on her family as she’d always dreamed of doing. No longer sick or spending their time in pursuit of water, Mwaluko’s children are now able to attend school regularly. Clean water access has also allowed Mwaluko’s entrepreneurial spirit to bloom. She tends a vegetable garden, feeding her family and selling surplus tomatoes and eggplants to neighbors. This income provides additional food and covers school expenses for her children.

This single pump has revolutionized life for over 3,000 villagers. And Mbili is just one success story among more than 1,200 villages where Innovation: Africa has installed solar-powered pumps, bringing clean water to over 5.3 million people across ten African countries.

Their installation process is thorough: drilling to the aquifer, mounting solar panels, and setting up the pump system. Clean water then flows to 10-20 taps throughout the village.

Innovation: Africa pairs each pump with cutting-edge monitoring. “Our remote monitoring technology ensures smooth operation for generations,” explains Sivan Yaari, founder and CEO. “Donors can track their sponsored village’s water pumping in real-time, right on their phones.”

Yaari describes the pump system as simple, reliable, and efficient—harnessing the power of the sun and 24/7 quality assurance with around-the-world oversight. And yet, Innovation: Africa’s vision extends beyond technology. They’re fostering sustainable change and community empowerment. Before installing a pump, the organization establishes a partnership with the village, ensuring local ownership and involvement. A village-elected water committee oversees the project, while ten locals receive training as water technicians, guaranteeing independent operation and maintenance.

Innovation: Africa is catalyzing sustainable industry, fostering community engagement, and building global partnerships—all with an eye toward the lasting impact that Mwaluko and her family are already experiencing.

“Before the water pump, we suffered greatly and had no hope,” Mwaluko said. “Now, we are healthy. Our children go to school—and we live in dignity.”

For many of us, our biggest water-related grievance might be a housemate’s overlong shower. It’s challenging to grasp a life where such a vital necessity is scarce. Stories like Mwaluko’s can feel distant, potentially leaving us feeling disconnected or guilty about our abundance.

However, for Christians eager to support the poor and oppressed, there’s a third option beyond disconnection or guilt. Innovation: Africa offers congregations a tangible way to connect their resources with villages in need, allowing believers to be faithful stewards of their blessings.

Churches can sponsor water pumps and send members to witness firsthand the transformative power of their generosity. Yaari describes the moment water first flows as one of “unforgettable joy”—a phrase that encapsulates Innovation: Africa’s invitation to church leaders to involve their congregations in this life-changing work.

Congregations can participate at various levels:

Innovation: Africa ensures 100 percent of congregational donations directly fund these projects, with private donors covering all overhead costs.

Join this mission of hope. Sponsor a solar water project and experience the unforgettable joy of transforming a rural African village.