People Impacted
4,780
Chinugulu Village
Projected Completed Date
10/12/2026
Located in the Chamwino District of central Tanzania, about 90 kilometers from the capital city of Dodoma, Chinugulu Village is home to 4,780 people. Up until 2026 none had access to clean water. With no other option, women and children were forced to walk miles, along dangerous terrain, to a hole in the ground, shared with livestock and local wildlife, where they would fill their buckets with unsanitary water.
On October 12, 2026 the lives of the Chinugulu villagers were changed forever when the taps were turned on for the first time by Water 4 Mercy donors: Roger Rolfe, Joel Benisch, Betsy Laux, Connor Folkerth, Elizabeth Roistacher and Asher Sonego. They were there to celebrate with the village as water came pouring out of the faucets. From children to grandparents, villagers celebrated with sips of fresh, clean water. They expressed amazing gratitude toward Water 4 Mercy, showering the donors and staff with gifts and entertaining them with traditional song and dance.
Water 4 Mercy’s world-renowned contractor, Innovation: Africa, installed the solar-water pumping system which includes 4,471 meters of piping,14 solar panels and eight distribution points. It was all made possible thanks to generous donations by the Rolfe, Benisch and Roistacher families, whose names will forever be on prominent display on the water project.
During the celebration Joel Benisch addressed the Chinugulu people saying, “We want to thank you so much for giving us the honor to be here today and to thank you for the love and happiness that you welcomed us with. Our family has been blessed with more than we need and more than we wanted, and therefore we try to give back to the world that has been so good to us, and when we discovered Water 4 Mercy we realized we have found a very good way to do that.”
The following day the donors were invited into the offices of District Commissioner of Chamwino, Janet Mayanja, who presented Water 4 Mercy Founder and CEO, Nermine Khouzam Rubin with a Certificate of Appreciation In Recognition Of Outstanding Partnership.
This was an especially heartfelt experience for Roger Rolfe who was making his last donor trip turning on the taps in person. Rolfe said, "I've helped many people during my career, but none as satisfying as these projects for Water 4 Mercy. These villagers are so genuine, grateful and excited by what we do.That stays with me always."