Raincatcher is a non profit making charity and is registered (number 1110696) with the Charity Commission, the regulator for charities in England and Wales. It was set up in 2002 by Iain Smith and Anto Kunnel as a one off project called the Tabora Water Tank Project.
The aim of that original project was to raise enough funds to build a single underground water tank in the Tabora region of Tanzania, East Africa, where we both had links. It may not have been the catchiest name for a project but support was overwhelming and, on the back of that first success, we decided to make fundraising for a water tank in Tanzania an annual event.
Our new name – Raincatcher
Sensibly, we changed the name to Raincatcher and enlisted the help and support of secondary school students to design the first logo.
Then we set up a scratchy static website and hit the fundraising trail. In the first few years we raised enough money to build a number of underground water tanks and shallow wells. You can see a record of one of our builds on the projects page.
Time to get serious
In 2005 we ‘got proper’ and registered with the Charity Commission, outlined our vision, defined a firm constitution, and appointed trustees.
In 2007 we took a small sideways step and, in addition to the ongoing water tank projects, Raincatcher led 23 secondary school students from the Warwick School (in Redhill, Surrey) to Tanzania where they helped construct a latrine for a rural primary school.
A number of one-off side projects leaped into life that year and the expedition team also painted and decorated a school hall, funded the purchase of 100 malaria preventing mosquito nets, commissioned work benches and tables for the primary school classrooms, and provided a stereo for an old people’s home. Raincatcher also committed to funding the secondary school boarding fees for fifteen orphaned students for three years.
From secondary school pupils to undergraduates
In 2009 Raincatcher part funded a group of engineering students from Imperial College London to build three Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Tabora.
The relationship between the student body and Raincatcher flourished and in 2010 Raincatcher opened its first branch – Raincatcher Imperial. Following this, a new educational arm has been established at St Augustine University of Tabora in Tanzania called Raincatcher Tabora.
Into the future…
In the next few years we have many plans to continue and develop the design and construction of Rainwater Harvesting Systems, forge stronger links with our corporate supporters, and expand the educational side of Raincatcher.