Kalahari Resorts and Conventions’ partnership with charity: water on the Water Colors Life Project, aims to provide clean drinking water to 1 million Africans. Kalahari has pledged to raise $50 million for this cause. Since initiating this partnership, Kalahari has supported dozens of water projects in Madagascar, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mali, Tanzania, Malawi and Sierra Leone, bringing drinking water to thousands who previously lacked access.

Charity: Water and Kalahari’s Role

Charity: water, founded in 2006, aims to end the global water crisis by ensuring worldwide access to clean water. This nonprofit organization has funded more than 154,000 water projects in 29 countries, including Haiti, Honduras, Niger and Thailand. As of 2024, it has provided more than 18 million people with access to clean water and this number continues to rise.

Kalahari, an African-themed water park and resort, operates four locations across the United States (U.S.), with a fifth under construction. Inspired by founder Todd Nelson’s visit to Africa in the mid-1990s, the park uniquely combines water attractions with African themes. Nelson and his family opened the first location in Wisconsin Dells in May 2000 and have since expanded their operations.

Kalahari has not yet fulfilled its $50 million pledge, but the company is making significant progress toward doing so, with the assistance of charity: water and its resources. This initiative aims to provide Africans with a stable source of clean water, enabling them to focus more on creativity and education. Ultimately, Kalahari’s efforts will have successfully provided water access to one million Africans.

Empowering Rural Communities

Charity: Water reports that 703 million people globally lack access to clean drinking water, often burdening women and children in African rural areas with the daily task of water collection. This task is time-consuming and the water is frequently contaminated, posing serious health risks. To address this crisis, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions has partnered with charity: water to provide clean drinking water to one million Africans, committing $50 million to equip many rural communities with clean water sources. This initiative aims to reduce the time spent on water collection and the incidence of waterborne diseases. Scott Harrison, CEO of charity: water notes that, “Having a reliable water source close to home allows communities to focus on other imperative needs like education, food resourcing and sustainability and arts and creativity.” 

Enhancing Local Economies and Education

Reliable clean water promotes proper hygiene and healthier communities. When women and children are freed from the task of collecting water, they can explore creative avenues and pursue education. For instance, Kalahari’s commitment to this cause supported the installation of a borehole at the Chitungwiza Art Center in Zimbabwe. This not only provides the community with reliable water but also enables artists to use this resource to create and sell art, generating income. Kalahari has purchased authentic African art for display in its resorts. Additionally, access to clean water allows children more time to attend school, where they learn about hygiene and benefit from facilities like clean bathrooms. This shift from laborious water collection to educational opportunities fosters a more productive learning environment.

Implementation and Community Engagement

Charity: Water collaborates with local partners, including NGOs and nonprofits, to strategically plan and implement water projects in communities. These ongoing initiatives involve drilling wells, installing sand filters, building latrines and setting up water purification systems. The organization works closely with community leaders to foster educational programs on hygiene and ensure the sustainability of water resources through ongoing data collection and community engagement. The ultimate goal of charity: water is to reduce the number of people worldwide without access to clean water. Currently, one in 10 people lacks access to safe drinking water, leading to severe health issues. By providing clean water, charity: water aims to enable more children to pursue education and improve their quality of life. This effort is transformative, especially in regions where access to clean water can be life-changing.

Looking Ahead

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions’ partnership with charity: water, is working to provide clean drinking water to one million Africans. With a $50 million pledge, Kalahari is making substantial progress in supporting water projects across several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Sierra Leone. This initiative is not only improving access to clean water but also empowering communities. By reducing the time spent on water collection, a greater focus can be placed on education and economic activities.

– Sabrina Betterly

Sabrina is based in Drums, PA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr