In the coastal community of Kenton-on-Sea in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, access to water has become increasingly difficult as ongoing drought conditions continue to place pressure on local supplies. For many households in surrounding rural areas, collecting water remains a daily task that requires walking long distances to reach communal taps or other water points.
To help ease this burden, members of the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea, working alongside the Kariega Foundation, have begun distributing EcoRollers to vulnerable households across the greater Kenton area.
The EcoRoller is a simple but powerful solution designed to reduce the physical strain of collecting water. Instead of carrying heavy buckets by hand, families can roll up to 70 litres of water home at a time. For elderly residents and caregivers — who often carry the responsibility of collecting water for their households — this can make a significant difference in their daily lives.
So far, 18 EcoRollers have been delivered to families identified through community engagement. Over the coming weeks, another 32 EcoRollers will be distributed to households most affected by ongoing water challenges.
The initiative is being championed locally by Rotarians Ray and Carol Oliver, whose dedication and leadership have been instrumental in bringing the project to life. Working closely with community partners, they have helped ensure that the EcoRollers reach families who need them most.
The EcoRollers themselves are manufactured locally in East London by Eco Tanks, supporting regional production while providing a durable tool designed to last for many years.
This project also highlights the strength of Rotary partnerships that extend far beyond local communities. The EcoRollers were funded through the support of the Rotary Club of Gibsons and the Rolling Water Foundation in Canada, demonstrating how international collaboration can create practical solutions to everyday challenges.
Looking ahead, the initiative will expand through the upcoming Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Summit in 2026 near Makhanda. Seventy-seven student leaders from across the Eastern Cape will each receive an EcoRoller and become ambassadors for the initiative in their own communities. An additional 23 EcoRollers allocated to the summit will be distributed through Rotary’s local community channels.
Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to practical solutions that restore dignity and make daily life easier for families facing water scarcity.
In Kenton-on-Sea and surrounding communities, the EcoRoller is doing more than moving water — it is helping roll relief, resilience, and hope into homes across the region.
