In partnership with Wine to Water East Africa, Grand Circle Foundation brought clean, sustainable water to the community of Karatu, Tanzania—but the journey wasn’t easy. Hear from Wine to Water, community leaders, the drilling team, and the Foundation’s own Sandra Vaughan in the video above.

Did you know that more than 1,000 children under the age of 5 die every single day from diseases related to the lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)? Globally, 1.69 billion people live without access to adequate sanitation, and 419 million people still cannot access a toilet.

Water is life. It sustains people, grows food, powers economies, and supports entire ecosystems. Yet this most vital resource is under greater stress than ever before. To create a world free of poverty on a livable planet, we must transform the way we use and manage water.

Over two billion people live in countries (including Tanzania) where the water supply is inadequate—and in September, something extraordinary happened at one of the six schools supported by Grand Circle Foundation through O.A.T.

Thanks to a generous bequest earlier this year and the dedication of our incredible partner at Wine to Water, we are setting these schools and communities up for the future.

On a Thursday, after prayers, the drilling began. By Friday, at 120 meters, we started to see signs of water. And then at 160 meters—water! The cheers and excitement at the school were overwhelming. Children, teachers, and the team stood in awe as the very thing they’d dreamed of for years, was finally gushing out of the earth. The water will be tested for quality and potability, but this is the first step in ensuring that the school and its over 800 students and teachers will now have consistent access to water, rather than relying on the seasonal rains.

This is also the next step in the GCF goal of self-sustainability, as with access to water, the school will now be able to successfully maintain the gardens they’ve planted to grow vegetables to both supplement the students’ lunches and sell to create an income stream for the school.

Once the water has been tested, a gated, secured solar pump will be added and we’ll be moving on to the Changarawe Primary School as we look to drill at all of our Tanzania schools.

On behalf of Grand Circle Foundation, the Karatu community, and Wine to Water, thanks to all our travelers and supporters for making this work possible.