What is the name of your organization?
Kansarmen SL Foundation
What is the name of your solution?
Clean Water, Brighter Futures
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Providing sustainable water and sanitation solutions for schools and communities to improve health, education, and dignity.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Negombo, Sri Lanka
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Sri Lanka
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Millions of people, especially in rural Sri Lanka, lack access to clean and safe water, leading to significant health issues and stunted educational outcomes. In schools, inadequate sanitation facilities exacerbate these challenges, particularly for female students during menstruation. Teachers are burdened with fetching water, leaving students with limited time for education. The lack of sanitation facilities also contributes to poor hygiene and increased absenteeism. Globally, 2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, and 4.2 billion live without safely managed sanitation. These issues are most critical in underserved areas, where the socio-economic conditions worsen, and environmental factors like drought or contamination further aggravate water scarcity. Our solution aims to address these interconnected challenges by providing sustainable, safe water and sanitation facilities to schools and rural communities.
What is your solution?
Our solution is a comprehensive, sustainable water and sanitation program that equips schools and rural communities with access to safe, clean water and well-maintained sanitation facilities. We use cost-effective, energy-efficient water filtration and pumping systems that rely on gravity and local geography, ensuring minimal maintenance and long-term sustainability. In schools, we ensure that the water supply is tested for quality and provide filtration systems where needed. We also create female-friendly sanitation facilities with built-in sanitary pad disposal systems, addressing the unique needs of female students. Our solution also includes community engagement and education on water conservation and hygiene, ensuring long-term impact. This model is scalable and adaptable to different communities, with a focus on fostering local ownership and ensuring that the infrastructure is maintained sustainably.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution directly serves rural communities and schoolchildren, particularly in underprivileged areas where access to clean water and sanitation is severely limited. The target population includes students (both male and female), teachers, and families in rural Sri Lanka, particularly in regions like Puttalam, Negombo, and Nuwara Eliya. These communities face high rates of waterborne diseases, poor hygiene, and school absenteeism due to inadequate sanitation. The solution will improve students' health, boost attendance rates, especially among female students, and enhance their learning environment. Teachers will no longer need to fetch water, allowing them to focus on teaching. Families will also benefit from having clean water at home, reducing the burden of water collection and improving overall health. The solution empowers the communities by building local capacity to maintain the infrastructure, ensuring its sustainability and creating a positive long-term impact on public health and education outcomes.
