Water is a human right—yet billions still lack reliable access to safe water.
In this episode of Human Rights Chat, host Melissa McNeilly speaks with Sunil Lalvani, founder of Project Maji, a nonprofit delivering sustainable, solar-powered water systems to rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
Inspired by a life-changing encounter in rural Ghana, Sunil set out to address a major gap in global water access: not just building infrastructure, but ensuring it works long term. Project Maji’s community-centered model combines solar technology, local partnerships, and digital monitoring to create reliable, maintainable water systems.
Together, they discuss why water remains one of the most urgent—and underinvested—human rights challenges, how lack of access disproportionately impacts women and girls, and how sustainable water solutions can unlock education, health, and economic opportunity.
With nearly 500 sites serving close to half a million people, Project Maji offers a powerful example of systems change in action.
Learn more: https://projectmaji.org