Engarre spends a lot of time talking with local people and village leaders to understand how the community really works. Without this knowledge, any help would be ineffective. During one such discussion, the mayor explained that in 2020 a dam on the local lake broke after about 15 years of operation. Since the lake is the only water source in the area, the situation quickly became critical.
At the same time, long-standing climate patterns began to change. The rainy season, once relatively predictable, became delayed and weaker. Combined with the damaged dam, this led to a dramatic drop in the lake’s water level. By late 2021 the lake was already very low, and in 2022 the situation worsened further as the breach deepened and even less water was captured during the rains. It became clear that urgent action was needed to retain water in the landscape.
Repairing the dam was a large and costly project, and the village received no government funding. Although helping to solve this water crisis was one of the main reasons Engarre was established, the NGO registration process in Tanzania takes time. The village therefore decided to take a risk and start the project before having enough money to finish it. Local residents contributed what they could, despite extremely low incomes, which was enough to prepare the project and begin repair works.
As the dry season progressed, the lake gradually disappeared—and so did the remaining funds. While part of the dam was repaired and the lake bottom deepened, a crucial element was missing: a proper drainage system to prevent future breaches. The contractor refused to continue without full payment, leaving the village trapped in a vicious circle—without water there was no harvest, without harvest no income, and without income no way to finish the repair.
In late 2022, Engarre helped negotiate with the contractor and provided financial support to stabilize the construction, but the project remained incomplete. In spring 2023, unexpectedly intense rains hit the area. With the lake completely dry beforehand, the sudden inflow of water tore through the dam again, this time in a new location.
Engarre recognizes both the vital importance of the lake and the complexity of the problem. Further negotiations are underway, but it is already clear that a carefully prepared new project will be necessary. Estimated costs will be published after expert review, and any form of support for this demanding project is deeply appreciated.
