Clean water, dignity and a fair start for every child

Afyaplus improves water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and menstrual health in Tanzanian schools and communities, so girls and families can learn, earn and thrive.

Read our storyMeet the board
Afyaplus team with a community in Tanzania
300k+lives impacted since 2017

Our story

Afyaplus began with a simple idea: no child should miss school for lack of clean water, and no girl should have to choose between her dignity and her education.

Founded in 2017 by Suzan L. Yumbe, we grew from a volunteer-led community group in rural Tanzania into a registered NGO working hand in hand with schools, local governments and international partners.

“No girl should have to choose between her dignity and her education.”Suzan L. Yumbe, Founder & Executive Director
  1. 2017

    Humble beginnings

    Suzan L. Yumbe founds Afyaplus as a community-based organisation with a small team of volunteers.

  2. 2020

    Registered as an NGO

    Officially registered, focusing on WASH, nutrition and women's empowerment.

  3. 2021

    First WASH Gala

    A fundraiser to improve water storage in 25 government schools in Iringa region.

  4. 2022

    First major grant

    Malala Fund support for girls' menstrual health; five handwashing stations built; 1,265 girls trained to make reusable pads.

  5. 2023

    New partnerships

    3rd WASH Gala; 15 school safe pad labs set up, producing 5,685 pads.

  6. 2025

    Strategic growth

    New Dodoma office, expansion to Mbeya and Dodoma, Strategic Plan 2025–2030 launched, and 57,796 girls reached across 92 schools.

Mission and vision

Where we are heading, and how we get there.

Our vision

A responsible community where children grow healthy, women are empowered, and the community is free from nutrition, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases.

Our mission

To cultivate behavior change and build a strong community through the promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene services, nutrition and the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women, by engaging relevant stakeholders.

Our core values

The principles behind every borehole, pad lab and training session.

Compassion

We approach our work with deep empathy for the communities we serve, especially women and children.

Integrity

We maintain transparency and accountability in all our operations and relationships.

Innovation

We develop creative, sustainable solutions to complex WASH and nutrition challenges.

Collaboration

We partner with communities, government and other stakeholders for greater impact.

Our impact

Milestones reached with schools, communities and partners.

0kLives impacted
0Adolescent girls & young women empowered
0Girls reached with menstrual health education (2025)

Where we have built

Number of sites
Schools reached163
WASH infrastructures48
Safe pad labs25

Our theory of change

If we strengthen water, hygiene, menstrual health, nutrition and community skills together, then girls stay healthy and in school, and families thrive.

The challenge

Barriers to health and learning

  • Schools without safe water
  • Girls missing class during their period
  • Malnutrition among children and mothers
What we do

Five focus areas

  • Build and maintain WASH services
  • Teach menstrual health, supply safe pads
  • Train women and youth
What changes

Healthier habits and systems

  • Safe water and handwashing in schools
  • Girls with knowledge and products
  • Stronger livelihoods
Our impact

Our vision realised

  • Children grow healthy
  • Women are empowered
  • Communities free of WASH and nutrition diseases

Our focus areas

Enhancing WASH services

For schools and communities through sustainable solutions, so children and families live healthier lives.

Enabling MHH and ASRHR

For adolescent girls and young women through education and safe products, so they gain dignity and equal opportunities.

Empowering communities

Through skills and training, so women and youth build resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

Improving nutrition

For children and mothers through community-based solutions, so families thrive with better health.

Enhancing institutional capacity

Strengthening Afyaplus for long-term sustainability and greater impact.

Help every girl stay in school

Join us to bring clean water, safe pads and health education to more schools.

Donate

Fund water systems and safe pad labs.

Donate now

Partner

Work with us on WASH, nutrition and empowerment.

Contact us

Volunteer

Lend your skills to our community teams.

Get involved