A sit down with our former CEO
Clare’s journey with Village Water began long before she officially joined the organisation in 2011. With a background in teaching and education charities, Clare later completed a master’s degree in international development before moving to Bolivia. Although she was offered a role there, she chose to return to the UK to stay closer to family, a decision that would eventually lead her to Village Water.
After returning, Clare worked in agricultural development. Through this work, she met David Dixon, one of Village Water’s founders, who had been fundraising to support water and sanitation projects in Zambia. Clare began supporting those efforts as a volunteer.
At the time, Village Water was still a very small organisation made up largely of trustees and volunteers. In 2011 David approached Clare to formally join Village Water as CEO.
From volunteer-led beginnings to lasting partnerships
When Clare first travelled to Zambia, the experience was both challenging and eye-opening. Long journeys on difficult roads and navigating unfamiliar environments made her question her place in international development work. Looking back now, Clare sees a huge difference between those early visits and more recent trips. In the beginning, communication with partners relied on reports and photographs being posted on CDs from Zambia to the UK. Partnerships were less established and collaboration looked very different.
Today, Village Water works much more closely with local councils and in-country teams, with genuine partnerships and shared ownership at the centre of the work. Clare describes the shift as one of the most positive changes she has witnessed during her time with the charity.
Expanding into Mozambique
Village Water’s work in Mozambique began after receiving significant funding which created an opportunity to expand beyond Zambia. Village Water researched several neighbouring countries, considering logistics, safety and local need. Mozambique quickly stood out as the right fit. Clare found local councils eager to engage and communities enthusiastic about the work. She remembers being invited into people’s homes for dinner and experiencing a culture that felt welcoming and collaborative.
The experience left a lasting impression on her, particularly the willingness of local people to contribute ideas and take ownership of projects from the very beginning.
Shaping Village Water’s early direction
Clare describes our founder David Dixon as focused and deeply passionate about water and sanitation work. As a trained water technician, he brought technical expertise alongside a strong commitment to improving access to safe water in Zambia.
What Clare believes set Village Water apart in those early years was its emphasis on hygiene education before building water points. The organisation understood that sustainable change required more than infrastructure alone.
David spent significant time in Zambia, often travelling there three times a year. His dedication helped shape the organisation during its formative years and influenced many of the partnerships Village Water still values today.
Three words that define Village Water
When asked to describe Village Water in three words, Clare chose equitable, efficient and fun.
For Clare, equity reflects the organisation’s long-standing commitment to working with local partners, involving district councils and building local capacity.
Efficiency is about ensuring as many people as possible benefit from access to safe water through effective partnerships and delivery.
Fun reflects the organisation’s culture. Despite working in challenging environments, Village Water has always remained a close-knit team that values humour and strong relationships.
Having witnessed the charity evolve over more than a decade, Clare’s story reflects how Village Water has grown from a small volunteer-led organisation into a trusted partner focused on locally led, sustainable change.
