About -Rotary Safari for WASH Project
Explore. Experience. Empower.
The Rotary Safari for WASH is a signature humanitarian initiative by the Rotary Club of Gayaza that fuses service with adventure to support improved Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Uganda’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools. Rooted in the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”, this project is uniquely designed to harness the passion for travel among Rotarians and their friends as a powerful tool for fundraising, awareness creation, and community engagement.
Our tagline, “Explore, Experience, and Empower: Journeying to Improve WASH in UPE Schools in Uganda,” reflects our dual commitment—to offer unforgettable travel experiences while creating meaningful impact in vulnerable school communities.
What We Do
The Rotary Safari for WASH is not just a travel fellowship—it is a service-driven movement that seeks to transform public education through better hygiene and sanitation. Every year, we organize purposeful safari trips across Uganda and beyond, bringing together Rotarians and friends who are passionate about both exploration and community impact. These safaris serve as fundraising platforms to support WASH interventions in needy UPE schools identified through rigorous needs assessments.
With the money raised, we implement comprehensive WASH solutions, including:
Construction or rehabilitation of school latrines, with gender-separated and disability-inclusive designs.
Provision of clean and safe drinking water through borehole drilling, water harvesting systems, and filtration solutions.
Installation of handwashing stations equipped with soap and running water.
Supply of sanitation materials to promote hygiene and cleanliness.
WASH education and training for learners, teachers, and communities to ensure long-term sustainability.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between WASH standards and the reality on the ground, helping schools comply with Uganda’s national WASH requirements for primary education institutions. These include:
1.5 litres of safe drinking water per learner per day.
Separate, adequate sanitation facilities for boys, girls, and learners with disabilities.
One handwashing facility for every 40 learners, stocked with water and soap.
Currently, many schools fall short of these targets, resulting in high rates of absenteeism, especially among girls, and poor academic performance linked to waterborne illnesses and inadequate hygiene.
Why We Exist
Uganda’s public education system has made great strides since the introduction of UPE, but WASH infrastructure remains severely lacking in most schools. According to national and international assessments, a large percentage of learners study in environments without access to clean water, soap, or sanitary latrines. These conditions are not only undignified but unsafe—leading to illness, dropout, and disrupted learning.
The Rotary Club of Gayaza, with its track record of impactful WASH interventions in schools such as Springfield School in Kiwenda and Gayaza Church of Uganda, saw the need for a scalable and sustainable model to support WASH improvement efforts. The Safari for WASH Fellowship was born out of this vision: a community of Rotarians and travel enthusiasts committed to transforming schools through travel and service.
How We Work
Each year, the Fellowship organizes a themed safari to a carefully selected destination. The journey includes cultural immersion, wildlife exploration, networking, and campfire forums (“kimeeza”)—all tied to a cause: raising funds to support WASH interventions in a chosen school.
Participants (called “Safari Buddies”) contribute a fixed fee that covers the safari experience while also including a donation toward the WASH cause. The funds raised are then channeled into projects that are designed, implemented, and monitored in collaboration with school leadership and local government.
The Safari for WASH Fellowship is inclusive—open to Rotarians and non-Rotarians, local and international participants—anyone who shares our belief that clean water, safe sanitation, and proper hygiene are fundamental rights for every child.
Our Commitment
To improve WASH standards in public schools in line with national guidelines.
To empower learners and communities with the knowledge and tools to maintain healthy hygiene practices.
To build partnerships between Rotarians, the private sector, government, and civil society for sustainable development.
To celebrate Uganda’s natural beauty and diversity while delivering social impact.
Be Part of the Journey
By joining the Rotary Safari for WASH Fellowship, you’re not just taking a trip—you’re becoming part of a growing network of compassionate, action-oriented individuals who are rewriting the story of public education in Uganda.
Together, we can ensure that every child learns in an environment that is clean, safe, and empowering.
For more information about our ongoing projects and upcoming safaris, visit:
👉 www.rotarygayaza.org
Let’s Explore. Experience. Empower.
—One safari at a time.
