Hippo Water Roller Project

Mission of the Hippo Water Roller Project

"To improve access to clean water for rural and impoverished households by means of appropriate technologies including the Hippo Water Roller, consequently improving their quality of life and economic prospects."

The Hippo Water Roller is exclusively manufactured and distributed worldwide by Imvubu Projects, a social enterprise - trading as The Hippo Water Roller Project.

The project distributes sponsored Hippo rollers in partnership with NGO’s and donors to rural impoverished communities where access to water is limited.

The purpose is to significantly enhance people’s quality of life thereby improving their health, education and economic opportunities.

Education in hygiene, water purification, rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation based food gardens are promoted simultaneously.

• Social – Extensive amounts of time and energy is saved which can now be directed to other important household tasks. Even men, who consider collecting water a menial task, are proud of the technology and have started collecting water using the Hipporoller.

• Health – More water means a better quality of life through increased hygiene and cleanliness resulting in fewer medical problems. Rolling rather than carrying heavy buckets of water reduces the strain on the skeletal frame reducing the possibilities of physical injury.

• Economic – More time, energy and better health are important ingredients for improved productivity, food production and income generation. Due to media attention and attendance of local government officials at the Hippo roller handover ceremonies, the community is placed “on the map” resulting in other needs being addressed.

The Hippo water roller brings more than just improved access to water!

A typical project includes:

• Sponsorship funding is secured and a recipient community is identified with or without the sponsor

• The project is introduced to the benefitting community leadership and a mandate to proceed is obtained

• The handover date is set, and on completion of production, the rollers are delivered to the site

• At the handover ceremony, community leaders and invited dignitaries address the beneficiaries - Sponsors are encouraged to participate

• Gratitude is expressed by the community through song and dance routines

• Rollers are handed over to household representatives in a predetermined and controlled manner

It is due to the goodwill of NGO’s, corporate businesses, governments and other donors that Hippo rollers can be given to impoverished households that would not otherwise be able to profit from this technology.

Sponsors have the opportunity to further enhance their exposure by branding the Hippo Water Roller in corporate colours, attaching banners to the handle or having their logo moulded into the screw cap.

The benefit to recipients is immediate and measureable, not requiring unending and unpredictable budget spend before positive results are obvious.

This project touches the heart of many in the media and has a strong emotional appeal because it addresses such a basic human need.

Grant Gibbs is Project Manager of the Hippo Water Roller Project.

Grant provides more in-depth information on the distribution, impact and expansion of the Project at http://hipporoller.wordpress.com.

"My main focus is the manufacturing and distribution of Hippo Water Rollers both locally and internationally with support from Corporate Social Investment, Government, NGO's and other donor organisations and individuals." - Grant Gibbs.