‘It’s Not About What’s On Someone’s CV But Their Commitment To Your Business And Goals’- Birungi Saudah Founder ‘Tusafishe’

Birungi Saudah is the co-founder of Tusafishe, a social enterprise that designs and installs institutional water filters for large communities using locally available materials to make provision for safe drinking water for big communities, cost effective and environment friendly.

The 23 years old is also a life coach, an Anzisha fellow, SEED Award winner 2019 and student who is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

INSPIRATION

The pain of the loss of my brother to a water-borne disease gave me a reason to start a war against them. I started Tusafishe because I lost my brother Faisal to diarrhea. My brother and I grew up with a single mother who was always busy doing all kind of jobs to support us. When we were in high school, Faisal contracted diarrhea and the next day he was too weak that he couldn’t even come to class. He was rushed to the school clinic but his condition continued worsening, the nurse referred him to the referral hospital. Unfortunately, Faisal died on his way to the hospital. This hurt my mum and I so much to the extent she became too sickly and weak to work thus she was unable to rise my fees anymore. I stopped school and started supporting my mum at her work place. It was during this time that one of my friends told me about Social Innovation Academy, I applied and later joined. It was here where I met other scholars who had been through pain because of waterborne diseases like me. We joined hands and started brainstorming ways we could provide safe drinking water to people cost effectively. That’s how we came up with Tusafishe.

TURNING INSPIRATION/IDEA INTO REALITY

After joining hands with my other team members, we did a lot of research on how to provide safe drinking water to large communities cost effectively but it was very hard for us because none of us had a background in water engineering or even plumbing. However, later on we got someone who had a vast experience in biological filtration who supported us so much and we managed to build our prototype at Social Innovation Academy which they still use to date. We then went ahead and installed in different places.

BUSINESS MODEL

The filter has a onetime cost of $600 (Shs2M) and can be used for more than 12 years making it the cheapest method per liter of safe water provided in the country. Our clients pay and then we install the filter for them. For schools which can’t afford to pay a onetime deposit, our partnership with Finance Trust Bank enables them to get the system in a way that the bank pays us fully and the schools pay back the bank in installments.

BALANCE BETWEEN PROFITABILITY AND DOING SOCIAL GOOD

Tusafishe doesn’t just sell filters but in the process of filtration we get 20 students whom we train on the technology and how to make their own filters using locally available materials so that they become part of community water volunteers to maintain the filters in their schools. These students then become our gateway to their homes and communities. We also plant 10 moringa trees to replace trees which were cut to get firewood for boiling water. In the communities we train 40 women on how to use locally available resources to build biological filters. Later, they construct portable filters for their homes and others for sale thus generating more income. Our main purpose of training the women is to avoid cases where students get safe water at school then unsafe water at home.

CHALLENGES OF RUNNING AN IMPACT-DRIVEN BUSINESS

Distraction from your vision. When you start getting money you may end up getting lost and forget your reason for being.

SOLUTION

When the time comes for you to grow, select people who truly believe in your vision and cause. It’s not about what’s on someone’s CV but their commitment to your business and goals that will make them a true asset. These are the people who will always remind you of your vision when distractions come your way.

RAISING FUNDS

We sell our filters. Also, so far, we have got seed funding from SEED and Anzisha.

THE THREE MAIN STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS

We focused on our strength from the start, if we had focused on our weakness, we wouldn’t be here.
Knowing our revenue streams. Revenue is a necessity for developing a sustainable business.
Growing together as a team. ‘Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success’ -Henry Ford.