BLOG: Rwanda Needs Our Help More Than Ever - Ewan Robertson
18 August 2020
Ewan lays first brick for new toilet block

Ewan reflects on his visit to Rwanda in 2018
“I left Rwanda having learned a lot about their vision and culture - and the determination of the communities to make a lasting change
Ewan Robertson
”
Specialist Services General Manager
Rwanda revisited
It was my first visit to the country – a place I only really knew about from the news headlines.
A warm welcome
When I see Rwanda in the news or documentaries, I am reminded about the beauty of the countryside, the warmth of welcome we received, the happiness of the children we met and their love of singing, dancing and playing football.
I am also reminded of the contrasts – particularly the poor sanitation and hygiene, which many of the young people we met at the schools had to endure.
Today, two in five people in Rwanda don't have access to clean water. Yet Rwanda is a country that has embraced change and inspires potential for a bright future.

Better Lives
Ewan is proud of Scottish Water's work with WaterAid, to help improve daily life for thousands of schoolchildren in Rwanda.
When I visited the toilet block at GS Mulico school, I was choking on the fumes as I tried to enter. Young girls from the Nkumbure School shared their experiences and challenges they face when using the inadequate menstrual health facilities.
I also remember the excitement on all the boys’ faces when I brought out a football and we had a kick about in their playground.
I left Rwanda having learned a lot about their vision and culture - and the determination of the communities to make a lasting change. I was also better equipped with knowledge about the daily challenges they face due to the lack of access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
Rwanda is a land-locked country that is densely populated. Sanitation engineering isn’t easy. It rains a lot and the roads can be poor. But I felt their energy, enthusiasm and ambition - and they made me feel at home. So, I wanted to play a part in helping out.
Significant progress
We have also reached over 300,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) messages and 32,000 households now have improved access to decent toilets.
Still more we can do
COVID-19 has had such an impact on our fundraising this year and now, more than ever, we need your help.. We still have another year and a half on the project and we still need to raise funds to support the next phase of the project in building rainwater-harvesting systems.
This year we are introducing the 5 in 5 challenge. We are challenging you, your family and friends to walk, run or cycle 5km for 5 consecutive days whilst raising money for WaterAid. Share your challenge using #5in5 and make a donation to WaterAid via the JustGiving page.
Please do get involved and make sure we can continue to support the incredible people of Rwanda
Thanks to support from Scottish Water, the Scottish Government, and other partners, we are transforming lives by bringing clean water and decent toilets to schools and remote communities in Rwanda.