October 2021

ViDrate is extremely excited to announce a BRAND NEW (and first!) Charity Partnership with Excellent Development. The charity works with local partners to support rural dryland communities to build rainwater harvesting sand dams, which provide clean water for life and the opportunity to develop livelihoods. These sand dam projects, coupled with climate-smart agriculture training, free communities from poverty and enable them to transform their own lives.

What are drylands?

Drylands are defined as regions with arid, semi-arid or dry sub-humid climates. They cover 40% of the world’s land surface, support 50% of the world’s livestock, account for over half of all farmland, and are major wildlife habitats. There are significant dryland regions in 110 countries across six continents.

Nick, Co-founder of ViDrate:

"This is ViDrate's first charity partnership and we feel Excellent Development and ViDrate's values align perfectly. Our mission is to help people drink more water and improve the environment and sustainability, whilst Excellent Development want to help provide cleaner water to transform people's lives through water and soil conservation in drylands."

Dwain Lucktung, Communications Manager for Excellent Development:

“Excellent Development are thrilled to be chosen as ViDrate’s first charitable partner. We share similar values and objectives, believing that positive change can start with water, and hope that together, we can support more dryland communities to build sand dams, access clean water, and transform their own lives and local environment.”

Change starts with water and water starts with a sand dam

This constant search for water in drylands means that people have no time to invest in things like agriculture and education. So they are trapped in a situation they have no power to improve. Desertification, climate change and biodiversity loss are very closely linked, but with the right interventions, all can be addressed simultaneously. Excellent Development’s work with rural dryland communities does just that. With cost-effective, sustainable rainwater harvesting initiatives, like sand dams, they are improving access to water.

A sand dam is a concrete wall built across a sandy riverbed that can capture up to 40 million litres of water, replenishing every rainy season. That water is stored safe from disease and evaporation within the sand. It’s easily extractable via pipework connected to hand-pumps and taps, with one sand dam providing enough year-round water for over 1,000 people.

Sand dams can make such a difference. They are the world’s cheapest method of capturing rainwater and this ancient, but effective, technology can help provide a year-round supply of water that gives hope for generations to come.

With time saved (from having to trek long distances in search of water), and the opportunity this creates, people are able to invest in sustainable land management and are building their resilience to climate change – addressing local biodiversity loss, desertification, and climate change all at the same time – as well as creating food security and economic growth.

If managed well, drylands can be fertile lands - capable of supporting habitats, crops, livestock and sustaining lives. Investment in sand dams and climate-smart agriculture in drylands must be a global priority if we are to protect the natural capital upon which sustainable livelihoods are built.

Excellent Development believe the widespread application of sand dam technology in drylands, together with sustainable land management initiatives, will make a significant contribution to the alleviation of poverty for dryland communities; whilst supporting millions of the most vulnerable people in the world to build climate resilience and reverse the impacts of climate change and land degradation.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

ViDrate want to help raise enough funds to help build a SAND DAM for a rural community in Africa.

To support Excellent Development, we have set up a Charity Collection where 15% of proceeds will be donated to help ensure everyone has the chance to have clean drinking water. 'Tips' can also be made at checkout to further donate if you so wish.