Alphonsina Ntibingwa from Tanzania studies water to make an impact & transfer knowledge

I work as a Water Quality Engineer at Arusha Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority. I won a Rotary International scholarship to study for my Master’s degree in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft. My specialism is the Water & Health track, with an Engineering Sciences profile.

I heard about IHE Delft in 2018, when one of my colleagues from Vitens Evides International recommended IHE Delft as an excellent Institute for water studies. One year later, I applied and got a conditional offer. However, I needed to improve my English to complete the admission and scholarship application. Nevertheless, I kept checking the website and social media for more information, because it was my dream to study at IHE Delft. With the support of my family and colleagues I re-applied in 2022, this time my English had improved and I got accepted.

I contacted Rotary International club of Arusha as it was in the list of accepted scholarships. I filled in the form and Rotary recommended an interview as part of the application process. Prior to the application, Rotary, VEI, Arusha city council and Arusha Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority had partnered up for a School WASH project. I was indirectly involved in this project and thus familiar with the club. I gave a presentation to the Rotary club about myself and how I wanted to make an impact after completing my MSc programme.

Through the rotary scholarship, I have a host counsellor to talk to about my progress and I have to send a progress report biannually. When I return, I will give a presentation about my experiences at IHE Delft.

When I was young, I aspired to become a doctor, which made me realise that I wanted to make an impact in the community. However, at university, I pursued a course in engineering geology which has much focus on rocks and minerals that have less impact on the community compared to the need of clean water. Therefore, in my final year at university, I did a project related to groundwater for the city of Dar es Salaam. That made me realise that my interest lies in provision of clean water which has huge impact on the community.

Alphonisna Ntibingwa — Alphonsina Ntibingwa

Tanzania is a large country and water challenges differ in each region. I come from the Arusha region in the Northern part of Tanzania, in which the Great Rift Valley is located. Here there are significant water quality problems. Our main resources are both groundwater and surface water. Water supply authorities are more concerned with quantity than quality. This makes it difficult to strike a balance between the two, especially in the face of rapid population growth and urbanization.

My first impression is the cold weather in the Netherlands. The culture and hospitality are beyond my expectations. I was introduced to my ‘Dutch friend’, who is really caring, and helped me to get used to all the new things in a different country. The diversity of students and teachers is also amazing, when you say something about Tanzania, teachers know a lot! They know about the projects in the area, this is truly fascinating.

The teaching style is very different. In the modules, we learn about theoretical knowledge but also improve our skills: presentation, lab work, group work etc. I have learned about the empirical application of knowledge through field trips and project visits. There are a great variety of experiences, which have helped me grow as an individual.

After graduation, I will go back to Tanzania and work on the Fluoride removal projects which is also part of my thesis research, furthermore I will find ways to fundraise and lead community water projects. Additionally, I would love to make impact at the water authority and transfer knowledge to people working on site! The future is unpredictable though, I will also look out for other international water-related jobs.