How a Youth-Led Movement Is Bringing Clean Water and Hope to Africa

Written by: Brodie Martin

Edited by: Sarah Smith

Published: July 7, 2026

In the world of non-profits, the International Transformation Foundation (ITF) stands out… and for good reason. With youth empowerment and community involvement at the heart of their mission, ITF started as a small grassroots organization formed by four young friends with nothing but a fiery passion and a vision of a better future for the next generation. Today, it has grown into a worldwide family of volunteers providing reliable clean water access to over 200,000 people across Africa. Additionally, ITF has partnered with both the United Nations as well as the European Union in its efforts to secure dependable water access and raise education outcomes through their interventions. They work diligently to foster holistic solutions to the problems faced by Africa’s youth today.

The International Transformation Foundation was founded with the express goal of helping young people focus on education and self-development. That mission is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of its founders. Founding member Venuste Kubwimana, for example, recalls growing up without easy access to clean water and regularly missed school to fetch it for his family. The organization is built upon such firsthand understanding of the difficulties of walking miles back and forth for water, and coming to class too exhausted to effectively participate. This is a reality for millions of young Africans and it has dire consequences for their long-term academic prospects. So much time and energy must be spent on securing basic necessities that education often becomes a secondary concern. 

With a deep personal understanding of this struggle, the founders were determined to be a part of the change they wanted to see. So, on August 25th 2010, the International Transformation Foundation (ITF) was officially launched as an entirely independent initiative. Since then, the organization has expanded its global reach to foster awareness and to find volunteers to join ITF’s mission. In 2021, International Transformation Foundation, Inc. (ITF-USA) was founded as a way to connect American youth to ITF's initiatives. Young American adults are invited to enrich their education through cultural and social volunteering opportunities by contributing to ITF’s greater mission of uplifting African communities and providing access to reliable and affordable clean tap water.

ITF-USA gives American volunteers valuable experience in project management, planning, and execution, as they are directly involved in the creation of the global ITF project they support. After the planning phase is completed, volunteers travel to the project location and closely work with ITF staff and community members to make their plan a reality while engaging in amazing cultural exchange with locals. 

ITF-USA has two main programs for volunteers to participate in, both developed to enrich local communities who struggle with water access and to empower young people with the capability and confidence to take on the world. Both projects are entirely led by youth volunteers and funded by donations, reflecting ITF’s fierce commitment to independent and authentic empowerment of its communities. 

The first is the School Water Kiosk. Designed to directly combat the issue of clean water scarcity and its impact on children's education opportunities, the initiative brings together ITF-USA volunteers and African community members to build a fully functioning water dispensary. Located at local schools, it completely eliminates the need for children to choose between education or clean water. Just as importantly, the kiosks serve the broader community, allowing residents to purchase water from students and generating funds that are reinvested into kiosk maintenance and improvements to the host school. 

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the project is its sustainability. Once construction is complete, designated residents are equipped to maintain and operate the kiosk without outside assistance. This way, ITF-USA empowers communities with the skills and knowledge they need to be self-sufficient—not to mention greatly reducing the overall time spent just to acquire clean water!

ITF-USA’s second signature program is the Water Fountain Project. These fountains provide reliable water access in regions which experience routine water rationing which create a dependency on purchasing single-use plastic water bottles and can greatly disrupt education and work rhythms. On location, community members and American volunteers partner to build and/or restore a public water fountain in common areas such as at a park or recreation center. At the fountain's launch, volunteers distribute free, reusable water bottles which reduce plastic and water waste.

Through these initiatives, ITF and ITF-USA have collectively served over 200,000 people throughout Africa - and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon! As they’ve gone on in their mission, they've faced great challenges. Yet they continue to overcome with tenacity and a guiding belief that all that’s needed to change the world is to put the work in. If you believe there's truth to those words and believe in their mission, join ITF-USA today and be a part of the change.