About
Students building solutions,
not just awareness
We fund and build real infrastructure, in partnership with world-class engineers.
The Student Water Project™ is a student-led initiative that partners with professional engineers to deploy UV water purification systems in schools and communities that lack access to clean drinking water.
Students lead fundraising efforts at their schools and communities. Every dollar raised goes directly toward a specific, verified project. Industry-leading partner engineers and scientists guide our student team through the technical implementation process.
We work alongside A Drop of Hope, led by award-winning PhD Dr. Paul Nyangaresi, to identify communities with the greatest need and coordinate on-the-ground deployment.
Students receive impact reports, track project progress, and see exactly where their effort goes. Education through action.
Why UV Water Treatment
Ultraviolet purification destroys 99.99% of harmful pathogens without chemicals, filters, or complex maintenance.
Unlike chlorine, UV leaves no taste or odor. Unlike boiling, it requires minimal energy. A single UV-LED system can serve an entire school for years with very little upkeep
Our Team
The Team Behind The Project
Our executive team assists with all projects and operations, guided by industry-leading engineers and researchers.
Valerie Mao
Valerie, an Architectural Engineering student at the University of Waterloo founded The Student Water Project™ to bridge the gap between student energy and real world impact.
Valerie Mao
CEO
Sophia Yenson
Sophia Yenson, a science student at UBC is the COO of The Student Water Project. After raising $44,000+ dollars in a high school fundraiser, she brings expertise in both fundraising and outreach coordination,
Sophia Yenson
COO
Grace Churney
Grace Churney, a chemical engineering student at Macmaster University. Along with her experience as the chair of London Ontario's Relay for Life, she is a local artist and graphic designer.
Grace Churney
CMO
Ron Blutrich
Co-founder of Clear Inc, an industry-leading UV water purification company, Ron brings experience in industry leadership to the project.
Ron Blutrich
Senior Advisor
Denise Rebello
Dr. Rebello, a Senior Scientist at Clear Inc, provides strategic guidance on future water initiatives.
Dr. Denise Rebello PhD
Senior Partner
Paul Nyangaresi
Dr. Nyangaresi is an UBC civil engineering post-doc. He is the 2024 winner of the Mitacs Research Award for his first initiative in Kenya. the Student Water Project will expand on his developed system.
Dr. Paul Nyangaresi PhD
Senior Project Coordinator
Dhruv Joshi
Dhruv, a CS/Math student at the University of Waterloo joined the team as CTO, overseeing technical operations, and leading digital strategy for The Student Water Project.
Dhruv Joshi
CTO