Just a Drop’s Programmes
Each of our projects form part of wider programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable development both for the communities and the countries which we work in.
From start to finish, we involve local people so that all their needs are met and all their concerns and questions are answered. We work with partner organisations in each of our countries so that community input and feedback can guide us at every juncture.
Our programmes use access to safe water as a starting point, but they go so much further. Around the world we deliver programmes focusing on menstrual health, sustainable agriculture and drought resistant farming, and income generation so that people can escape the poverty cycle.
Menstrual Health
We work to promote menstrual health awareness, as well as providing resources, so that women and girls can safely and privately take care of their bodies while they have their periods.
Communities are trained in how to make reusable sanitary pads, as well as having comprehensive training on menstrual health, and education for the whole community about menstruation to break common myths and taboos.
Income Generating Loans
We provide start up loans to communities to support enterprise. Once people no longer have to walk for hours a day to collect water for their families, they often have enough time to become economically active.
With a small pot of money which is given out as loans to community members, people are able to start small businesses to earn income for their families and improve their standard of living. Loans are paid back after a given time period and the programmes also provide training on bookkeeping and financial processes.
Sustainable Farming
Sustainable agriculture training ensures that farming practices are carried out with as little impact on the environment as possible.
The training also focuses on climate smart farming practices, such as using drought resistant seeds to increase communities’ resilience to the effects of climate change.
Governance and Maintenance
With our country partners we support communities to set up local governance groups to ensure maintenance of the solutions, as well as School Health Clubs and Village Health Teams to sustain behavioural change. We also provide training on livelihoods, small scale agriculture, and climate change resilience and mitigation.
Our partners work with district governments to ensure sustainability, for example by training local Area Pump Mechanics to maintain and repair equipment when necessary.
Agriculture
- Terracing: Without terracing 70% of water is lost on farm lands through run-off, and up to 250 tonnes of soil per hectare is lost through erosion every year. We train communities to practice soil conservation through terracing to improve water and soil retention on their farms and therefore increasing their food production.
- Improved Farming: We offer continuous training to farmers on improved farming methods to cope with the erratic rainfall patterns of their areas. In partnership with officials from Agriculture Ministries as well as other stakeholders, we help to provide skills and information to farmers on sustainable farming practices.
- Drought Resistant Seeds: We provide farmers with certified seeds and advocate for the planting of drought resistant crops, which can withstand the harsh climatic conditions of the arid and semi-arid areas we work in.
- Seed Banking: Our seed banking programmes help to achieve food security. We enable communities to store seeds at a central point, making seeds available to the entire community during the planting season. We also provide post-harvest management training to farmers on storage and preservation of their harvest, and the treatment of the seeds. Storing seeds for future planting is a key step towards creating food security.
