Water, Work and a Way Forward

Fatuma Saidi no longer dreads mornings in Chiuta village. Gone are the days of trekking for hours in search of unsafe water. Her nine-year-old son Arafat, once prone to stomach infections, now makes it to school regularly. The latrine at home, once a flimsy structure without a door, is now secure and sanitary. And with two sewing machines and a stall selling produce, Fatuma is not only feeding her family, she’s training the next generation of businesswomen.

“We now have the tools and hope for a brighter tomorrow,” she says.

The transformation of Fatuma’s household in Chiuta, southern Tanzania, is no anomaly. It is the result of a comprehensive intervention by DMDO, working with World Vision Tanzania and funded by the Grille Foundation. The initiative didn’t focus on a single solution. Instead, it combined three: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and financial resilience.

Health

Before the intervention, life was defined by absence. Clean water was scarce, requiring daily journeys that consumed hours and left the family exposed to waterborne illnesses. “Clean water has been a blessing for us,” says Fatuma. “We no longer suffer from constant illnesses or lose hours fetching water.”

A prepaid water meter system, installed by DMDO, now brings water directly to the family. Besides convenience, the system ensures financial sustainability through secure, trackable payments that cover maintenance and reinvestment. The result is more time, over six hours a day, for productive work, up from barely three before.

Fatuma fetching water from a prepaid metre at the Public Distribution Point.

A Door Makes a Difference

Sanitation, too, was rudimentary. The family’s toilet lacked a door, compromising both hygiene and usability. That changed with training from DMDO, which led to upgrades in their latrine and daily practices.

“The hygiene training made us realize how small changes can make a big difference,” Fatuma says. “Adding a door to our toilet has made our home safer and more comfortable.”

While modest, this modification is not trivial. In rural sanitation, a door provides basic privacy, which strongly influences whether facilities are used consistently, especially by women and children. Without it, latrines are often avoided during the day, contributing to open defecation and increasing disease risk. Studies by the World Bank and WHO show that uptake and sustained use of sanitation facilities depend heavily on practical features like doors, roofing and secure construction. Simply put, a toilet that isn’t used is no better than one that doesn’t exist.

At Arafat’s school, Chiuta Primary, DMDO went further, installing water points, handwashing stations, and offering hygiene education for both pupils and teachers. The impact is measurable: healthier children, fewer absences, and a better chance at learning.

Fatuma in front of their latrine after installing the door.

At Arafat’s school, Chiuta Primary, DMDO went further—installing water points, handwashing stations, and offering hygiene education for both pupils and teachers. The impact is measurable: healthier children, fewer absences, and a better chance at learning.

A Stitch in Time

Yet the most striking shift may be economic. Fatuma joined Jikwamue, a local savings group supported by DMDO. With a loan of TZS 150,000 (USD 58), she started selling farm produce. The profits allowed her to reinvest, buying a second sewing machine for TZS 400,000 (USD 154) and doubling her income. Monthly earnings now exceed TZS 100,000 (USD 38), compared to just TZS 50,000 (USD 19) when she worked alone.

Now, with the improved business, Fatuma not only generates a steady income but also trains other girls in the village, further contributing to her community. Her earnings enable her to cover her family’s basic needs, including the water bill, as her household now uses about 120 litres of water per day.

From Hardship to Hope

Fatuma’s story illustrates what happens when development is not siloed. A water tap on its own is useful. Add sanitation and hygiene education and it becomes powerful. Pair that with financial tools and it becomes transformative.