Sand dams are transforming lives around the world. But how do they work?

Find out in this animation. Excellent Development would like to thank Translators Without Borders for the translation of the subtitles, which are also provided here:

Silanga sya kithangathi

Kusenzya maisa ma andu ma nthi nyumu

Kwa isilye... kembwa witumia masaa ikumi na eli kwa muthenya uimantha kiw'u.

Usu niwo thina munene ula wina iveti na syana milioni maana nthini wa nthi nyumu ila syi iulu wa nthi.

Mbua imwe kana ili nguvi kwa mwaka, mbua mbingi vyu ni ikuaa muthanga ula museo wa yiulu.

Kiw'u kingi kiendaa ukangani, nakila kyatiala kiing'ala mituki muno.

Kwa isilye  keka ve usungio wa ukombo uu wa kiw'u

Wambiyaa na Silanga ya Kithangathi.

Silanga sya kithangathi ni nguta mbake na mavia na simiti katikati wa usi ung'alaa...

Nzia yi laisi ya kutea kiw'u kya mbua nthini wa nthi nyumu.

Mbua ya mavia ya ivinda inini yiinzaa nguka na iikua kiw'u na muthanga.

Kithangathi kila ki kiw'uni ni kiithikaa... kiw'u kila kingi vyu na tumavila twisilaa iulu wa silanga.

Nthini wa muthenya - kana ona mbua 2 kana 3 - silanga yusuaa kithangathi.

Kithangathi kila kingi silangani  kiiyaa kiw'u kuvikia kilungu 25 nginya 40%. Kithangathi kii kisuviaa kiw'u kiikang'ale na kukisunga kithe ki kitheu.

Mivaivo ila yikiitwe silangani itumaa mundu avikila muveleki kana itilamu ya ng'ombe ya unywiiya kiw'u kwa laisi.

Ithima ila ite ndiku sikunaa kiw'u kuma ndilamu mbususye.  

Nginya lita milioni 40 sya kiw'u. Maisa meu... muvelekini.

Lakini usu niw'o mwambiiyo. Kindu kila kyatiyaa mbeange nikisenzasya maisya.

Ve saa mbingi sya kuima na kwinza mitao muundani na kiw'u kya kuvanda miti...

Mauthyululuko maisenzya na mainenga ndua yonthe wiikwato... na mwanya.

Iveti na syana si imina kutava kiw'u nthini wa ndatika 30-90.

Syana yu nosyikale sukulu muthenya muima.

Iveti yu nositumie masaa maingi kuvanda liu mwingi - matunda vamwe na mboka na maliu kivathukany'o ala ma thano na kuete uima wa mwii na ukwati mwingangi.

Yu ou niw'o andu ma ndua masenzasya maisya moo ene

Mwa tetheesya kwaka silanga sya kithangathi nikenda utethye nja 75% nthi yonthe.

Uw'o nikana... silanga sya kithangathi niitethasya ndua kusenzya maisya moo mwene.... silanga imwe kwa ivinda yimwe.