It isn’t only the rural areas in Eastern Congo that struggle with access to clean water. It’s a problem in town, too. For the residents of Bukavu, a city of over a million people, the local system is frequently shut off and even when it is turned on, it’s risky to drink.
There’s a huge need for the type of clean and consistently safe water that Asili offers — but right now, you have to go outside the city to get it.
The team thinks there might be a huge demand for Asili water in Bukavu, but they wanted to test it.
With the help of 365, the team got together everything they needed to set up a small water boutique in the middle of town, advertising that Asili water is there, and then waiting — will the customers will start flowing in?
Over the coming weeks, they’ll assess what’s working, and what might need improvement, for their brand new water boutique. It’s an experiment, but they’re looking forward to the results — and to keep evolving until they get it right. Because, says the team, It’s such a huge gap that Asili could help fill.
“People need clean water in Bukavu,” said Valery, Asili’s Business Operation Manager. “I think we’ll see that people really appreciate this service.”
Photos by Lens on Life photographers, Operation Goma (DRC): Kennedy Ngoa and Michel Basizi
