The proverb is “If you need to go fast, go alone. If you need to go far, go together.” We’ve discovered when we collaborate with humanitarian partner organizations, we can do both. Smart partnerships allow us to extend and accelerate our positive impact.

Connecting across the world, the Kohler India Power team, U.S. and India Kohler Stewardship teams, and local Rotary Clubs in both countries rallied together to bring safe drinking water and sanitation to the more than 950 students attending the V.S. Satav High School and Junior College in Pune, India.

Empowered by our Believing in Better philosophy, Kohler associates bring their passion not only to work every day, but also to bettering the communities where they live and work. Recognizing the dire lack of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene amenities at the V.S. Satav school, our India Power team approached their local Pune Rotary group with a water impact project proposal to improve conditions.

As Rajesh Arora, Associate Director of Human Resources – Kohler India Power, noted, “When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier, the girl students attend school confidently more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.”

Kohler water impact projects are borne out of our Safe Water for All initiative and combine Kohler’s water systems expertise with the strengths of our partners to bring sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to communities in need. The students of the V.S. Satav school had a significant need.

Located in a water-poor area, the school lacked any on-site drinking water and sanitation. Water that wasn’t necessarily safe for drinking was trucked in at no small cost to the school. Students often relied on drinking water they carried with them from home, and without access to water for hygiene and sanitation, female students frequently missed school during menstruation.

Thanks in large part to Rotarians from the Pune Riverside club working hand in hand with their Sheboygan counterparts to organize and fund the project, it was completed in the fall of 2021. Ultimately, with input and help from Kohler associates and the school’s administrators, both a reverse osmosis filtration and a rainwater harvesting system were installed, as well as a rainwater storage tank that can hold up to 10,000 liters of water. Additionally, Kohler was able to install repaired and renovated toilets, as well as a wire screen filter with a capacity of filtering over 150,000 liters of rainwater in 24 hours.

Creating strategic partnerships and leaning into our strengths, Kohler was able to provide immediate and long-term benefits to the students attending the V.S. Satav school. “By focusing on permanent water solutions, the school was made more welcoming for the students. Availability of water has improved the reputation of the school, positively impacting attendance. Other long-term benefits include the health and wellbeing of the students and zero spending on water,” said Arora.

Together, we go farther faster.