In the coastal regions of Bangladesh, rising salinity and water scarcity create daily struggles for many families. Climate change and higher sea levels exacerbate these issues, forcing residents like 12-year-old Azifa Parveen and her family to journey long distances for drinking water, often from contaminated sources.

LEDARS, a 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner, has provided essential relief to over 15,000 families in these vulnerable areas with sustainable water solutions like Bio-sand Filters (BSF). These solutions bring safe drinking water directly to households, reducing both health risks and the time spent collecting water, allowing families to focus on education and livelihoods.

Azifa’s mother, Nahar Parveen, describes the profound impact of receiving a BSF from LEDARS: “It is like getting rid of a nightmare that never ends.” Previously, the family constantly struggled with waterborne illnesses, incurring frequent medical expenses. Now, with improved health, they no longer endure the exhausting trek for clean water. For Azifa, this transformation means fewer sick days and more time for school. "I’m very happy that I am no longer sick as often. I can study hard, and I don’t get tired," she shared, her ambition to become a doctor now closer to reality.

Beyond health, LEDARS supports food security and livelihoods by tailoring solutions like rainwater harvesting and pond sand filters to the unique environmental needs of coastal Bangladesh. Through these initiatives, LEDARS not only ensures safe water access but also strengthens resilience against the impacts of climate change, empowering families like Azifa’s to envision a future beyond survival.