3 Ways Xylem's Partnership Amplifies Community-Led Engineering Efforts Far and Wide
At Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA), we believe in the power of people and the potential for communities to rise and thrive. Our long-standing partnership with Xylem shows what is possible when global expertise meets local leadership. Together, we are delivering clean water, strengthening skills, and inspiring future changemakers.
This year, Xylem is deepening its commitment to our shared mission. Through this partnership, we are expanding clean water access in Kenya, engaging employees in meaningful work, and inspiring young people through STEM outreach. Here are three impactful areas where this partnership is making an impact:
1. Expanding Clean Water Access in Kenya
In Kenya, nearly half the population lives without access to safe water. This impacts health, education, and economic opportunity, particularly for women and girls. Through our Purposeful Partnership Model (PPM), we work directly with Kenyan organizations to co-create water systems that are sustainable for the long term.
With Xylem’s investment, plus in-kind expertise and equipment, we are accelerating projects that will reach 500,000 people in the next three years. This includes drilling new boreholes, installing solar-powered pumps, and building distribution networks so that communities like Kirengo, Nyabohanse, and Kogwari have reliable, safe water close to home. By strengthening the capacity of local leaders, we ensure these systems remain strong for generations.
Learn More about our work with Xylem in Kenya>>
2. Engaging Xylem Employees in Purpose-Driven Work
Partnership with EWB-USA is more than funding. It is about people working together to solve water challenges. Xylem employees contribute their skills as engineers, project managers, and mentors, supporting communities both remotely and in the field.
From guiding student engineers to advising on technical designs to co-leading outreach events, Xylem’s 23,000 employees have opportunities to create measurable impact. Each hour of mentorship, each visit to a project site, and each technical insight shared helps move communities closer to sustainable water access.
3. Inspiring the Next Generation Through STEM Outreach
Water security depends on the next generation of innovators and leaders. Together, EWB-USA and Xylem are co-facilitating STEM outreach programs that encourage students to explore careers in water and humanitarian engineering.
Through community-college collaborations and interactive workshops, students see firsthand how engineering can change lives. These experiences show that problem-solving in the water sector is not just about infrastructure. It is about ensuring communities are built to thrive, and leaders have the tools to build.
Solving Water Together
The Xylem and EWB-USA partnership proves that lasting change happens when technical expertise is paired with local leadership. From rural villages in Kenya to classrooms across the US, our work together is building more than infrastructure. It is building opportunity, resilience, and hope.