we are well aware
Well Aware is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with headquarters in Austin, Texas, that provides innovative and sustainable solutions to water scarcity and contamination in East Africa. We fund and implement life-saving water systems to drive economic development and empower communities. Learn More

- 1 in 10 people lack access
- to clean water

- Women and girls spend 6 hours
- every day collecting water

Every 90 seconds, a child dies from a preventable waterborne disease
Well Aware builds 100% successful wells and water systems

Well Aware has impacted over a quarter of a million people to date.
Lasting clean water in a community means:

↓ 64%
DISEASE RATES DECREASE

↑ 34%
EDUCATION RATES INCREASE

↑ 58%
EDUCATION RATES FOR GIRLS INCREASE
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Since our first project was implemented in 2010, we have increased our project capacity every year, and we have growing teams of experts who ensure our projects are completed on time, with integrity, and with the most cost-effective use of donor dollars. Our project planning and execution includes our own thorough technical evaluation and oversight, strategic nonprofit partnerships to further community success, hygiene and sanitation training, and community empowerment and support. Well Aware conducts regular evaluations of all completed projects, but most of our partner communities no longer need us. Read about our teams implementing our work and the partner organizations we have selected to increase our impact.
Click on the dots for project summaries below:
Become A Partner
Well Aware has many options for your brand to get involved with our work. We have sponsorship opportunities for events or projects, and a number of activities to engage your employees with clean water impact. Click here to learn more about how you can become a partner! Learn More



Read The Latest:
A Year of Remarkable Innovation
Sarah Evans
I look back on 2020 with both pain and pride. It was many months of more surprises, challenges and heartbreak than I ever thought possible for this organization. Well Aware was not immune to the way the world was rapidly changing around us, and, in an instant, it was clear that it would be a year that looked like no other for our clean water work.
As a small, nimble organization, though, we were able to quickly regroup and create a new trajectory for our work that year. While we were postponing project implementation, reworking our budgets, applying for PPP, and assembling a plan to...
moreAmy Poehler and Meredith Walker Take To The Screen To Emphasize Water Rights Are Women's Rights
November 30, 2020
In a world dominated by the rapid spread of coronavirus, women are the ones most impacted and burdened by the damage inflicted by COVID-19, especially in regions already struggling with access to clean water. Amy Poehler and Meredith Walker, co-founders of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, have joined nonprofit, Well Aware, to emphasize the importance of clean water – now more than ever – for women and girls worldwide.
On December 3rd, at 7pm CST, Amy and Meredith will accept an award at Well Aware’s Virtual Gala which anyone can attend. The Global Impact Award, presented annually by Well...
moreRunning Water: COVID-19 in Africa
November 17, 2020
Examining the key role played by water in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
With the global COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, people across the world are being advised to constantly wash their hands to avoid contracting the virus. However, for some this suggestion proves more challenging than others.
South Africa and Kenya are two nations suffering from water scarcity. Having undergone unprecedented droughts in recent years and with a lack of development and infrastructure, many South Africans and Kenyans now struggle to follow these guidelines. Both nations serve as...
moreClimate Solutions: Next Generation with BioCellection Co-Founder & CEO Miranda Wang, KARTON Co-Founder Karan Jerath and WellAware Founder and Chair Sarah Evans
October 14, 2020
By Washington Post Live
Social consciousness around fighting climate change is expanding. Many around the globe are responding to the crisis with new ideas, including a new and galvanized generation of young people, who are calling on everyone to work towards reducing carbon footprints and living more sustainable lives.
The Washington Post’s Climate Solutions section, in partnership with Rolex, focuses on the individuals working to find answers. We will bring together young...
moreEric Bailey: 2020 Legend Award Winner
October 9, 2020
Eric has traveled over 71,000 miles to donate his engineering expertise through Well Aware, building clean water systems that have helped transform nearly a quarter of a million lives.
Eric Bailey is the perfect example of dedication and generosity. Eric has been a volunteer with Well Aware, an Austin-based global charity that partners with East African communities to build clean water systems, for just over three years. In his time there, he has used his technical expertise as a civil engineer for the City of...
more100% Project Success: The Well Aware Difference
Anna Provenzano
This year, we’re all seeing things a little differently than before. Water awareness is more relevant now than ever. Especially when it comes to those who lack it.
Almost 1 billion people still lack access to clean water. So together, we must unite and press forward to make this basic human necessity accessible for all. Regardless of how you use or access it, there is one thing that cannot be ignored - clean water is necessary to not only survive but to thrive.
And with that recognition, we must center sustainability at the heart of all water awareness...
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