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Hydroharvest

IDEAS Competition

Hydroharvest

Competition Year: 2011


Summary
cost-effective rainwater harvesting systems in Rwanda

Categories
Water and Sanitation



Quick Links



Our Pitch

HydroHarvest is a venture dedicated to bringing clean water to developing countries through cost-effective rainwater harvesting systems. Our team has worked extensively with our community partners in Rwanda in the past and on water projects. We are seeking funds in order to install a rainwater harvesting system at the Maranyundo School this summer as the pilot of our venture. This project will immediately impact the school community of 200 girls and administrators. Our analysis shows that the investment in a system with a collection area of 600m2 breaks even in under 3 years through cost savings from eliminated water and firewood purchases. In addition to the economic benefit, the system will provide important community health benefits and serve as a reproducible model for additional projects providing access to clean water in Rwanda.


Impact

Provide clean water for a school of 200 girls

Who We Are

We are working together with the Benebikira sisters, who run over 20 schools and orphanages with over 5000 children in locations across the country. We are also working together with Ann Fox, the President of the Paraclete Foundation, a long-time partner of Benebikira sisters, and co-founder of the Maranyundo school.

The HydroHarvest student team of Marvin Arnold, Peter Bojo, and Jean Pierre Nshimyimana has a blend of highly relevant experience from working on water projects and on the ground in Rwanda. Peter traveled to Rwanda this past summer to improve a water purification system at a university dorm run by the Benebikira sisters. Jean Pierre is originally from Rwanda, and before obtaining his Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT, he worked as a consultant in Rwanda. He managed water accessibility programs in various developing countries and also led the design and installation of rainwater harvesting systems that have been operational since 2007. These systems are currently providing clean water to Gorilla Truckers and Bistate Health Center in Rwanda. Marvin graduated last spring and has been working full time for Wyman Worldwide Health Partners in Rwanda, where he manages health clinics.

Our Community Partner

Partner Name

Paraclete Foundation and the Benebikira Sisters

Location

Boston and Rwanda

Description

http://www.paraclete.org/index.html http://www.benebikira.org/


Location:

  • Service Location
    Nyamata, Rwanda
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Comments and Support

  • great work , BUT , you make the work is useful for all the peoples. you must win . all the BEST

    Posted by A. poomalai on Thu, Jun 16th 2011, 10:22 Report Abuse


  • good luck...i am hoping for sucess. we take so much for granted, this could really impact the future of nt only this community, but many around the world.

    Posted by p. caldwell on Tue, Apr 26th 2011, 09:28 Report Abuse


  • Really great job!Happy Easter to all of you! Thank you for helping Rwanda!

    Posted by V. Rubimbura on Sun, Apr 24th 2011, 07:59 Report Abuse


  • This is an excellent project that is needed to help the students in the region. Rainwater harvesting is green and sustainable.

    Posted by b. davis on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 22:11 Report Abuse


  • Watch the HydroHarvest Project video: http://vimeo.com/22677755 This is a vital project being implemented by very experienced team. It will provide major benefits to the Maranyundo Girls School - so please tell your friends (all your friends!) to vote today! :-)

    Posted by Sean on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 19:24 Report Abuse


  • Rwanda will rise and shine again, and you will have made your contribution through this project. A million thanks.

    Posted by W. Shalita on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 17:16 Report Abuse


  • Great work towards achieving a basic human need,clean water!

    Posted by j. griffin on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 15:46 Report Abuse


  • Best of luck

    Posted by T. Maschler on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 12:43 Report Abuse


  • Keep up the wonderful work!

    Posted by v. mugabo on Fri, Apr 22nd 2011, 11:00 Report Abuse


  • Iyi ni project nziza cyane. Bravo !!!

    Posted by I. NIZEYIMANA on Wed, Apr 20th 2011, 14:54 Report Abuse


  • This project is so God .if implemented it will help our communities of developing countries .because in Rwamagana we have health centers with no access to water example of Gahengeri health center posted by DUSABIMANA Adelite..

    Posted by A. DUSABIMANA on Tue, Apr 19th 2011, 09:39 Report Abuse


  • Clean water is a basic human need we all take for granted. Helping people help themselves.. excellent initiative! Hope the project spreads to other communities. T. Long

    Posted by T. Long on Tue, Apr 19th 2011, 08:15 Report Abuse


  • Everyone who has voted so far....we need to get the word out. The project is #10 right now. Spread the word!

    Posted by m. peery on Mon, Apr 18th 2011, 18:09 Report Abuse


  • good idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!good luck

    Posted by AKIMANA MARIE VIVIANE on Mon, Apr 18th 2011, 09:33 Report Abuse


  • An excellent project.

    Posted by L. Melvern on Mon, Apr 18th 2011, 04:57 Report Abuse


  • Great initiative, guys! I do hope you can win the competition. All the best!

    Posted by P. Lianto on Sun, Apr 17th 2011, 09:27 Report Abuse


  • This is so worthwhile a project. And one which can and will be duplicated in many other places in Rwanda. The Benebikira foundation is so deserving of this help! Please make it happen! E. Contreras

    Posted by e. contreras on Sat, Apr 16th 2011, 21:45 Report Abuse


  • Good project guys

    Posted by J. SERUSHEMA on Sat, Apr 16th 2011, 19:42 Report Abuse


  • Good, everything you can do to improve the water situation in Afrika is so great Clean water for everyone! Good luck

    Posted by S. Bergman on Sat, Apr 16th 2011, 09:48 Report Abuse


  • Wonderful project; good luck.

    Posted by G. Yagovane on Fri, Apr 15th 2011, 19:28 Report Abuse


  • Clean water for a great project. I wish you luck in this competition and will spread the word.

    Posted by M. Morgan on Fri, Apr 15th 2011, 13:10 Report Abuse


  • As an individual, I already support the Maranyundo Girls School and I strongly believe in what it is trying to do. A. Coster

    Posted by A. Coster on Fri, Apr 15th 2011, 10:53 Report Abuse


  • Clean water - so scarce in many settings in developing countries. This is a great initiative that could serve as an example and be replicated in many schools in Rwanda. Good luck in this competition and to implement the idea. Gertrud Bojo

    Posted by G. Bojo on Tue, Apr 12th 2011, 22:00 Report Abuse


  • Nice work guys. You have a well rounded team with achievable goals and objectives. Good luck with your fund-raising and keep Eli busy. - JMM

    Posted by J. MITCHELL on Tue, Apr 12th 2011, 16:48 Report Abuse


  • I'm cheering you on! Thank you for trying to make a difference!

    Posted by R. Gamble on Mon, Apr 11th 2011, 18:36 Report Abuse


  • sounds like a great cause. best of luck!

    Posted by lj! on Sun, Apr 10th 2011, 17:30 Report Abuse


  • looks like a great project combined with a fine school - go for it, and good luck!

    Posted by steve carr on Sat, Apr 9th 2011, 10:29 Report Abuse


  • You have my vote without question...I wish I had multiple votes !!! We have been following the progress of this school for years and this is a MOST worthy investment in a MOST worthy project.

    Posted by J. O'Neil on Fri, Apr 8th 2011, 20:06 Report Abuse


  • This is a wonderful example of doing science/engineering for the benefits of people and our society, especially those who need water so much. Good job, guys! I'd love to see the waster water treatment and re-utilization as well as Uwizeye pointed out. Cheers.

    Posted by X. Liu on Fri, Apr 8th 2011, 08:44 Report Abuse


  • This is a wonderful project. Not only will it benefit this particular school, it will also serve as a model for other schools and institutions in the broader community. Its replicability is its strongest feature. This project needs to win! You have my vote.

    Posted by J. Fletcher on Fri, Apr 8th 2011, 08:02 Report Abuse


  • Great work guys, I appreciate your inovational and development work that you are projecting in our country.

    Posted by H. Placide on Wed, Apr 6th 2011, 11:47 Report Abuse


  • Good project guys, I think this will help even the school in Nyamata and also the population around. But it will be also important to think about how the school can use the waste water after treatment in agriculture irrigation for exemple during the dry season. Because as you know Water is not a gift we have to manage it efficiently! Thx guys for the project, I support u!!!

    Posted by A. UWIZEYE on Wed, Apr 6th 2011, 08:53 Report Abuse


  • Good project guys, I think this will help even the school in Nyamata and also the population around. But it will be also important to think about how the school can use the waste water after treatment in agriculture irrigation for exemple during the dry season. Because as you know Water is not a gift we have to manage it efficiently! Thx guys for the project, I support u!!!

    Posted by A. UWIZEYE on Wed, Apr 6th 2011, 08:53 Report Abuse


  • Please notify me so that I may vote April 6-26. Thank you.

    Posted by Stephen C. Farrell on Mon, Apr 4th 2011, 08:49 Report Abuse


  • This is an excellent pilot initiative with the potential to reshape the developing world, starting with one wonderful school in Nyamata, Rwanda, Maranyundo Girls School. What the preciousness of oil may be to us in the "developed" world, clean water is to most of the world. This is an opportunity that has been a long time in coming and which should not be passed up. We need to support it in any way that we are able. Burch Ford

    Posted by b. ford on Sun, Apr 3rd 2011, 10:43 Report Abuse


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