Age
14
Country of Residence
Kenya
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The spark came during a rainy season in my community. I noticed that although many households collect rainwater, their systems are not always kept clean or safely maintained. Gutters become clogged, first-flush systems and filters are neglected, and poorly protected tanks can allow insects, dirt and other contaminants to enter. My “aha!” moment was realizing that the problem was not simply a lack of water or infrastructure. Many families already had rainwater systems but lacked practical knowledge and regular maintenance routines. I began thinking: what if young people could help close this gap? We could learn together, help households identify risks, demonstrate simple maintenance and safe-storage practices, and encourage regular follow-up. I realized I did not need expensive technology to start making a difference. I needed young people willing to learn, organize and take action. That is how Rainwater Guardians was born—a youth-led initiative helping communities protect the rainwater they collect while contributing to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
We will activate others by starting with conversation, not simply recruitment. We will talk with friends, classmates, neighbours and households about a problem many people may recognise: rainwater systems can become dirty or poorly protected when maintenance is neglected. Our 3-person team will bring 12 more young people on board as Youth Rainwater Guardians. We will engage them through school environment clubs, youth groups, peer discussions and practical training, giving each Guardian a meaningful role in community action. We will engage households through voluntary Rainwater Safety Checks and community maintenance demonstrations. Instead of only giving advice, Guardians will show families how to identify problems and take simple steps to protect their systems. Households can then share what they learn with neighbours and relatives. We will also work with community leaders, schools and local organisations to spread awareness and create more opportunities for young people to participate. Our first-year goal is to train 15 Guardians, reach 100 households and hold 10 community demonstrations. We want every person we engage to become a messenger who can encourage others to act. People are more likely to join when they understand the problem, see a practical solution and feel they can make a difference. That is how we will grow Rainwater Guardians.
How many people are on your team?
3
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Rainwater Guardians is at an early stage, but our impact plan is clear and measurable. In six months, we aim to train 15 young people and reach 100 households. Youth Guardians will assess 75 rainwater systems using a simple Rainwater Safety Checklist, hold 10 community maintenance demonstrations, and follow up with 50 households after 30 days. We will track households reached, systems assessed, problems identified, improvements made and youth involved. We will look for practical changes such as cleaner gutters and catchments, maintained first-flush systems and filters, secure tank covers, cleaner storage areas and fewer conditions that allow insects or contaminants to enter. We will also measure youth confidence in leading community action. Our model is simple, affordable and community-based: young people work with households to protect the water systems they already have. Our long-term vision is a community where every drop of harvested rainwater is better protected and young people are recognised as leaders in creating positive change.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Rainwater Guardians is a youth-led initiative turning every roof into a safer water source by helping households keep rainwater harvesting systems clean, protected and free from contamination and mosquito-breeding risks. Through community action and youth leadership, the project promotes safe water practices and advances SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Project title
Rainwater Guardians
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
A rainwater system needs care from the roof to the tank: roof catchments collect dust and organic matter, gutters become clogged, first-flush systems and filters are neglected, and poorly protected tanks can accumulate sediment or allow insects and other contaminants to enter. Many people assume that because rain falls clean from the sky, the water remains clean after collection. This matters because families depend on harvested water for important household needs. When water becomes contaminated, families may face health risks or stop using a resource they have invested time and money to collect. I believe young people can help close this gap. We do not need expensive technology to begin. We need knowledge, simple safety checks, practical demonstrations and community action. Rainwater Guardians will mobilize young people to help households understand, maintain and protect their rainwater systems, making better use of every drop while contributing to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next three months, we will launch Rainwater Guardians. Month 1: Finalise our one-page Rainwater Safety Checklist with guidance from an adult water or public-health professional. Train our 3-member team, establish safety guidelines and begin recruiting 12 more young people from schools and the community. Month 2: Train the new Guardians in rainwater safety, household water hygiene, communication and safe, non-invasive system checks. Begin outreach to households that voluntarily participate and conduct our first 25 system assessments. Month 3: Expand to 75 assessments, hold community maintenance demonstrations and begin 30-day follow-ups. We will document improvements and lessons from the pilot. Over the next year, we aim to reach 100 households, train 15 Youth Rainwater Guardians, hold 10 community demonstrations and complete 50 follow-up visits. We will seek partnerships with schools, youth groups, community organisations and local water stakeholders. We will use what we learn to improve our checklist and share it with other youth groups so they can replicate the model. Our goal is to build a lasting youth-led initiative that helps communities protect the rainwater they already collect.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
Rainwater harvesting is not new, but Rainwater Guardians tackles an overlooked gap in the communities we will serve: there are no organised local services focused specifically on routine household rainwater-system maintenance and protection. Our innovation has four parts. First, we focus on the whole system. Young Guardians check the pathway from roof to gutter, downpipe, first flush, filter and tank, rather than looking only at the tank. Second, we turn simple knowledge into action. Our Rainwater Safety Checklist uses Green, Yellow and Red status levels to help households identify problems and understand what needs attention. Third, we make it youth-led. We are not creating another commercial service. Young people are trained to mobilise households, demonstrate simple maintenance practices, encourage action and involve qualified adults where specialist work is needed. Fourth, we follow up. Instead of a one-off awareness activity, Guardians return after 30 days to see what has changed and document improvements. Our innovation is therefore not a new gadget. It is a community model: train youth, check systems, educate households, act, follow up and measure change. By combining practical rainwater protection with youth civic leadership, we turn an overlooked community need into an opportunity for young people to serve others, strengthen household water practices and advance SDG 6. The model is low-cost and designed to be replicated by other youth groups and schools.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Rainwater Guardians will mobilize and train young people to help households keep their rainwater harvesting systems clean, protected and safe. We will recruit a youth team and train them in rainwater safety, system maintenance, safe storage and water hygiene. Using a simple Rainwater Safety Checklist, they will work with households to assess the full pathway: Roof → gutter → downpipe → first flush → filter → tank. With permission, youth will identify clogged gutters, dirty catchments, neglected first-flush systems, poorly maintained filters, damaged tank covers, sediment and openings that allow insects or contaminants to enter. Through practical demonstrations and community maintenance days, we will promote gutter and catchment cleaning, first-flush and filter maintenance, secure tank covers and cleaner storage areas. Hazardous or specialist work will be referred to qualified adults. The team will also educate households on safe water collection, storage, handling and appropriate treatment. Follow-up visits will measure improvements and document households reached, systems assessed, problems corrected and young people involved. Our goal is to build a community culture where collecting rainwater also means protecting it. Through youth leadership and community action, Rainwater Guardians will help households make safer use of every drop while contributing to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Our team has 3 young people. Henderson coordinates the project, leads training and household visits. One member manages the Rainwater Safety Checklist, data and 30-day follow-ups, while the other leads outreach, youth mobilisation and community maintenance days. We share leadership through weekly planning, collaborative decisions and rotating facilitation. We are also working to bring 12 more young people on board as Rainwater Guardians.
