**A N A W A R D - W I N N I N G I N T E R N A T I O N A L N G O**
## **A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 2 4**
**UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - 1190730 Ugandan Community Based Organisation (CBO) - 749/2020**
**Executive Summary**
**As we write, it is exactly five years to the day, 3 January 2020, that we founded Equal Aqua Uganda with a shared vision for water equality. Over the last five years, our team of passionate volunteers around the world has worked to make this vision a reality, providing improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for over 50,000 people.**
**2024, our fifth year of operations, was our most successful to date. We want to express gratitude to our Partners Haileybury Youth Trust and International Lifeline Fund, with whom we have continued to improve our sustainable pit latrines. With continued support from Festival Medical Services and other major donors we increased our focus on schools for people with disabilities, providing water tanks, and essential WASH skills and knowledge.**
**As we look to 2025, we request that you continue to support us so we can make WASH equality a reality.**
**Abel Odeke**
**Managing Director**
**Tom Mclenachan CEO**
**Sustainable Pit Latrine at Ebenezer Primary School, Eastern Uganda**
**"In Uganda about 50% of the population lack access to safe water. Equal Aqua Uganda are addressing a great need and challenge in Uganda and I am delighted this has been officially recognised with a Points of Light Commonwealth award."**
**- British High Commissioner to Uganda**
**EAU team and the British High Commissioner**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
## **Key Outcomes 2024**
## **Key Outcomes 2024**
**people with improved access to safe water**
**people with people with people with improved improved improved sanitation WASH menstrual knowledge hygiene & skills knowledge**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
##
## **Our impact to date**
**EAU formed in January 2020, and we are proud to celebrate 5 years of success operating throughout Uganda.**
**rainwater pit latrines water filters harvesting tanks**
**jobs in sustainable construction**
**people with improved access to safe water**
**people with improved sanitation**
**people with improved WASH knowledge & skills**
**people with improved menstrual hygiene knowledge**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
**As EAU approaches its sixth year of operation in 2025, we continue to celebrate steady growth in our achievements. The Trustees are pleased to see new levels of income in the UK and, more significantly, in Uganda. It has been gratifying to see our relationship with Festival Medical Services deepen and significant donations from a private donor were also gratefully received. A successful event with the UK Civil Service Jazz Band put the fun into fundraising at Christmas!**
**2024 saw a shift in emphasis in the work undertaken in Uganda. We placed greater focus on building ISSB (Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks) latrines, completing 16 this year. This is a reflection both of the need, as asserted by the communities we serve in Uganda.**
## **Trustees Report**
**The equally important activities of delivering our WASH and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) curricula in schools has continued, with increased numbers of children and adults benefitting from these skills.**
**Fundraising continues to be difficult in the present financial climate. EAU has set new and realistic targets for some growth in 2025, and we are grateful to our volunteers in the UK and Uganda, but also around the world (Zimbabwe, Belgium, Italy, Indonesia and Kenya) for their continued efforts.**
**We are very pleased to welcome three new Trustees to the board. Firstly, Daphné Carliez, a Dutch fundraising specialist based in London, and Ekongu Benard and Zion Okama, who have joined us from Uganda. Benard has a focus on community development in Northern Uganda and Zion is an experienced economist working in the energy sector in Kampala. We look forward to gaining from their expertise in their diverse areas.**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
## **Change Stories 2024**
## **ISSB Latrine Construction**
**In total 16 latrines were constructed in 2024, benefiting almost 10,000 people. EAU’s sustainable construction team use Interlocking Stabilised Soil Bricks (ISSBs), made from compressed earth. This method has a significantly lower carbon impact compared to standard kilnfired bricks, as well as other benefits compared to other methods.**
## **Ebenezer Primary School**
**Co-funded with Festival Medical Services, EAU constructed a fully drainable 5-stance ISSB pit latrine at Ebenezer Primary School in Eastern Uganda. This provided essential sanitation facilities for 315 students, with specialised access for students with disabilities.**
## **St Joseph Primary**
**During construction of the new EAU ISSB drainable latrine, the existing latrines (boys and girls) collapsed in extreme winds and the school was closed for several weeks. This made the timing of this intervention particularly fortuitous! The school was able to reopen on completion of the new latrine, benefitting 592 students in total (shared by boys and girls). The school’s Headmaster described it as “the best sanitation facilities in the town council.”**
## **St Francis School for the Blind**
**EAU provided a 10,000 litre ISSB rainwater harvesting tank to diversify the sources of water available to the school. This tank is mainly used for non-consumptive water use, such as cleaning, washing clothes or toilet flushing. To increase access to safe drinking water we also provided three ceramic water filters that remove 99.9% of bacteria.**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
## **Change Stories 2024**
## **Menstrual Hygiene Management**
**In Uganda, menstrual hygiene management (MHM) remains a critical challenge, particularly for women and girls in rural areas. As of 2024, while we have made progress in raising awareness and providing resources, many barriers continue to affect menstrual health. An estimated 60% of girls in Uganda struggle to access affordable menstrual products, and many are forced to use unhygienic alternatives such as rags, leaves, or old clothes, which increases the risk of infections.**
**Cultural taboos, lack of education, and societal shame often prevent open discussions about menstruation, leaving many girls and women ill-informed and unprepared. As a result, many girls miss school during menstruation, contributing to higher dropout rates, especially in rural and low-income areas.**
**Jovia Namihanja Project Officer**
**Mukomo School for Special Needs & Sir Apollo Kagwa Secondary School**
**In 2024 we were able to reach more disadvantage young women and girls through our 5-part MHM curriculum, totalling over 1,200 people. Our curriculum opens up conversations about MHM to break the stigma and trach essential MHM knowledge and skills.**
**Please consider sponsoring our MHM curriculum in 2025 so that we can reach out to more schools in Uganda and keep girls in school longer.**
**Equal Aqua Uganda Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London Kampala and London**
## **Change Stories 2024**
## **WASH Skills Training**
**As a highlight of our WASH skills programme in 2024, Amus Primary School in Bukedea District became a hub of empowerment for a total of 268 students and teachers. Our team facilitated hands-on training, offering two distinct workshops: liquid and bar soap making, and reusable sanitary pad making.**
**The liquid and bar soap making workshop drew 148 participants, comprising 86 girls, 54 boys, and 8 teachers. Meanwhile, the reusable sanitary pad making workshop attracted 120 participants, including 98 girls, 12 boys, and 10 teachers. Throughout the training, the enthusiasm and eagerness to learn was palpable. The students and teachers actively engaged in all activities, mastering the skills and techniques shared by our facilitators. A notable highlight of the training was the support from the teachers, who translated complex procedures into the local language, ensuring everyone grasped the skills.**
**As a result, 120 individuals acquired the skills to make reusable sanitary pads, while the liquid and bar soap making workshop empowered participants with practical knowledge. This initiative also fostered a sense of confidence and self-reliance. As we continue to empower marginalized communities, we're reminded that even the smallest actions can spark profound change.**
**Equal Aqua Uganda Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London Kampala and London**
## **Financial Report**
## **Equal Aqua, UK-registered CIO**
**Statement of Receipts and Payments for the Period 1/1/24 to 31/12/24**
## **Equal Aqua Uganda, Uganda-registered CBO**
**Statement of Receipts for the Period 1/1/24 to 31/12/24**
**The accounts were approved and authorised by the Equal Aqua Board of Trustees on 3 March 2025.**
**Signed on behalf of the Trustees of Equal Aqua**
## **Nishay Nathwani**
**Chair of the Board**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
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2025 Forward Look
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**We believe our 2025 targets demonstrate realistic growth following on from our best annual performance to date, in 2024. Notable progress was achieved in adaptation and innovation, to overcome challenging local factors. Our construction team are empowered to continue this development, specifically with our latrines and water tanks (Targets of 12 and 6 respectively). Our newly modified drainable, long-lasting ISSB latrines and a more secure tap system for the water tanks means our work is more effective in achieving our WASH objectives, primarily in schools. We anticipate helping in excess of 11,000 Ugandans with improved sanitation and access to WASH.**
**An associated target is to further expand our WASH and MHM educational classes, aiming to reach a total of 3,000 school children during the year.**
**To achieve these targets, we must increase the impact of our fundraising team. One initiative during 2025 will be an ambitious ‘Water Wheel’ cycling challenge. Our two founders, Tom McLenachan and Abel Odeke, will be cycling the 3,300+ miles from Kampala to Cape Town. Your support for this charitable endeavour would be most appreciated.**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
## **Support us**
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Equal Aqua Uganda
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children spend on average two
hours per day collecting water in
Uganda
£20/
MONTH
for just £20 per month you can
ensure 200 children have clean
water in schools.
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## **Transform lives**
**To have an enduring impact on more communities, please visit our website to set up a monthly donation**
**www.equalaqua.org/donate**
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do you want to provide access to clean
drinking water for famillies in Uganda?
£10/
MONTH
for just £10 per month, you can provide a Water filters
natural water filter for 10 families
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**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**Kampala and London**
## **F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N**
**UG: +256787370875**
**info@equalaqua.org**
**@equal.aqua**
**Equal Aqua Uganda**
**@equalaqua**
**www.equalaqua.org**
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