The Partnership
The Smiths Group Foundation, established in June 2023 by industrial technology company Smiths Group, is a charitable initiative committed to driving positive impacts within communities globally. With an initial funding commitment of £10 million, the Foundation focuses on awarding grants to charitable organizations nominated by Smiths employees, aligning with the company’s purpose of “engineering a better future”.
The Foundation’s grants concentrate on three primary objectives:
- Improving access to quality STEM education and skills for underrepresented groups.
- Enhancing safety and connectedness within communities.
- Advancing environmental sustainability within communities.
Under this mission, Just a Drop was selected as one of The Smiths Group Foundation twelve charity partners in 2024 and has funded the construction of four sand dams across Kitui County, Kenya—bringing sustainable, safe water to 3,467 people and transforming entire communities.
The Sand Dams
Each sand dam is an innovative, natural water storage system built with sand and rocks over a riverbed, linked to a community pump. This smart engineering solution captures and filters up to 10 million litres of water during Kenya’s rainy season, ensuring a year-round supply of clean water for local communities.
But the impact goes beyond water access. Alongside the sand dam construction, The Smiths Group Foundation is supporting community development programs to help local residents maximize the benefits of their improved water supply. As the sand dams raise the water table, communities will receive training in sustainable agriculture—including soil and water conservation, improved farming techniques, and seed banking. These skills will empower them to expand agricultural businesses and strengthen their local economy.
Additionally, training in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), menstrual health, and income-generating activities—such as soap making and microfinance schemes—will provide families with the tools to improve their health, financial stability, and overall well-being.
The Impact
Thanks to the generosity of The Smiths Group Foundation, these four communities will experience life-changing benefits:
- Improved health as families no longer rely on distant, contaminated water sources, reducing the risk of diseases like cholera and typhoid.
- Greater opportunities for women, who will spend less time collecting water and more time focusing on their families, work, and personal growth.
- Better education for children, who can attend school regularly instead of fetching water or suffering from waterborne illnesses.
- Economic growth, through training in small business development, soap production, and reusable sanitary product creation.
- Empowered women and girls, with menstrual health education and resources that promote hygiene, dignity, and increased school attendance.
With this vital support, The Smiths Group Foundation is creating lasting change – helping these communities thrive for generations to come.
