Our philosophy and approach

Published in July 2012

At Sand Dams Worldwide we pride ourselves in the philosophy and approach of our work. Formerly known as Excellent Development, this short film explains the way we engage with communities, encourage working together and learning from each other.

Latest

March 2024 sand dam expedition - hear from the volunteers!

Sand Dams Worldwide and a group of volunteers teamed up to support community members from Kithumba self-help group in southeast Kenya to build a sand dam. Hear what the volunteers, community and local partners had to say about the experience!
Big Give Green Match Fund campaign: make a donation today!

Sand Dams Worldwide is once again taking part in the Big Give's Green Match Fund campaign, during which you can have your donations doubled!
Sand Dams for Peace

Sand Dams Worldwide believes that sand dams could provide desperately needed new water supplies in southern Ethiopia and could play a pivotal role in reducing water-related conflict.
Agustin and Julian give a dam

Hi! 18 months later here I am, back at it. Many of you followed my adventure in Kenya with my son Ian back in September '22 and it is now Julian who wants to "give a dam" with me.

Watch how sand dams work

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands
Time-lapse of a sand dam being built

Watch as Kwa Voki self-help group build their sand dam in Makueni County, southeast Kenya.
Watch how sand dams work (French)

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands (with French subtitles)
1,000 sand dams - thank you!

Since 2002, Sand Dams Worldwide has enabled over 1,000 sand dams in 8 countries, providing clean water for over 1 million people. Hear from some of those people who give a big thank you to all supporters.
Why the Maasai in Kenya need sand dams - Part 1

The people of the Iltirim community in Lekurruki, Kenya, explain why they want a sand dam and the difference it could make...
Why the Maasai in Kenya need sand dams - Part 2

The people of the Iltirim community in Lekurruki, Kenya, continue to explain the different sand dams could make to their lives...
Raincatchers: a film by Al Jazeera

Watch what happened when Al Jazeera paid a visit to our partners in Kenya, Africa Sand Dam Foundation, to learn how sand dams are transforming people's lives.
Who is Sand Dams Worldwide?

This short film explains who we are and what we do; a charity supporting rural, dryland communities to create food and water security by building sand dams, and conserving water and soil.
Watch how sand dams work (Spanish)

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands (with Spanish subtitles).
The power of sand dams in Kenya

Sand dams are a cheap, innovative solution to water shortages in drylands, which also transform environments beyond recognition. Find out more about this remarkable technology in this video featuring interviews with Sand Dams Worldwide's founders, supporters, those in the community that we support and Professor Jesse Muyambi from the University of Nairobi.

We support communities to build sustainable sand dams in some of the poorest, drought-stricken regions across our world.
What is a sand dam?
Donate

Please donate what you can to transform lives and land with sand dams and clean water.
Reversing land degradation and desertification

Conservation of the environment is critical to the economic development of people living in drylands.
Watch how sand dams work

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands
The challenge

Find out what are drylands, why they are they are such harsh regions to live, how sand dams are applicable in drylands and what difference they can make to over 40% of the world's land surface.
1 million sand dams for 0.5 billion people by 2050

Read about our plan to directly support other organisations to build sand dams, in turn, realising our vision to support millions of the world’s poorest people by helping them to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands.
Act Now: Tackle Food Crisis With Sand Dams

Support dryland communities to overcome food shortages, and ensure they can grow enough food to eat and sell. It all starts with ensuring they have access to water. That’s where sand dams come in.
Sand dam manual

For everything you need to know about building sand dams, click here to read (and download for free!), Sand Dams: A Practical & Technical Manual.
Our approach

Find out more about Excellent's approach, from working with self-help groups to why we partner we on-ground, local organisations.