Home » TRAVEL EVENT NEWS » World Travel Market London Empowers Communities in Kenya with Access to Clean Water, Sparking Healthier Lives and Sustainable Growth Published on
October 9, 2025World Travel Market (WTM) London, a premier global event in the travel industry, has played an instrumental role in providing clean, safe water to rural communities since it became a long-term partner of the charity Just a Drop in 1998. Thanks to the generous donations and built-in exhibitor stand fees at the event, a one-thousand-strong community in rural Kenya has gained access to clean water, bringing a life-changing transformation to the region. This initiative is just one example of how the travel industry, through its partnerships, is making an undeniable impact on communities in need.A Life-Changing Project in KenyaIn 2024, a remarkable initiative resulted in the construction of a sand dam in the Katethya community in Kitui County, Kenya. The project was made possible through donations raised at the previous year’s World Travel Market London, where over £7,900 was contributed by exhibitors and attendees. This amount was then matched by WTM London, bringing the total donation to almost £16,000. This funding directly contributed to the construction of the dam, which now serves nearly 1,400 people.Advertisement The sand dam, a unique and sustainable water source, is designed to capture water during the rainy season. The dam is built across seasonal rivers, and as the water flows, sand accumulates behind the structure, trapping the water and acting as a natural filtration system. This filtration process ensures that the water extracted is clean and safe for consumption. The water can be drawn from a well through a hand pump located next to the river. The Katethya dam is one of four such dams that Just a Drop has constructed in the region, and it has already proven to be a vital resource for the community.Thanks to the dam, the community members of Katethya can now safely drink, wash, prepare food, and irrigate crops without the threat of waterborne diseases. Before the construction of the sand dam, access to clean water was scarce, and many community members had to rely on unsafe water sources, leading to health problems. The sand dam has, therefore, had a profound impact on the health and well-being of the people in Katethya.AdvertisementChris Carter-Chapman, …
