Today, 200 million hours will be spent by women and girls, walking to fetch water.

The task of collecting and carrying water has a negative impact on the physical health of women and children, as well as reducing time spent on productive activities and education.

However the reality is that as many as 319 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still do not have easy access to a safe water point, with rural communities often having little to know water supply infrastructure.

Africa Foundation works with many under-served rural communities to provide water boreholes when possible and then support households to reduce the burden of accessing the water from these boreholes, through the distribution of Hippo Water Rollers.

A Hippo Water Roller is able to transport 90L of water in one journey without any requirement for carrying. The handle of the roller enables the robust barrel to be pulled or pushed along even the roughest rural terrain. The benefits are immense. Transporting five times the volume of water in one journey than the standard bucket, results in more time for education and economic prosperity as well as improved health. The lid to the barrel has an airtight seal which keeps stored water free from contaminants, and there are two pouring mechanisms, controlling the volume of water released, to suit the purpose of use.

Africa Foundation has donated over 5,000 Hippo Rollers to vulnerable households in South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania and Mozambique and, with your support, aims to continue to provide rollers to change the lives of those most in need.

On 11th February a dedicated team of 28 Africa Foundation and andBeyond staff members and friends, are swimming the Midmar Mile - a 1 mile open water swim on the Midmar Dam, in northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa - with the sole purpose of raising funds to purchase Hippo Water Rollers. Your sponsorship will make this gruelling challenge worthwhile - every penny will spur the swimmers - of extremely mixed experience and ability - on! Thank you for your support!