How Candella Sand Candles Support Clean Water in Africa

When Candella relaunched in 2023 with sand candles, we were on a mission to do more than make a beautiful product. We wanted every purchase to mean something beyond the candle itself.

That led us to The Water Project — and to a commitment we’re proud to stand behind.

Why Clean Water?

Globally, 1 in 9 people lack access to clean water. In the communities we support in sub-Saharan Africa, the challenge is even more acute — nearly every person faces it daily.

Access to clean water isn’t just a health issue. It’s the foundation for everything else:

Education — Children spend hours each day walking to collect water from contaminated sources, missing school entirely
Health — Contaminated water carries disease, causing illness that ripples through entire families and communities
Food security — Clean water enables more abundant crops and reduces hunger
Economic opportunity — Time spent collecting water is time taken from livelihoods, perpetuating cycles of poverty

When a community gains access to clean water, all of these things begin to change — often within months.

Children in sub-Saharan Africa — clean water access changes everything

Our Partnership with The Water Project

Candella partners with The Water Project — a nonprofit organization that funds and builds sustainable water solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on long-term community ownership and maintenance.

What makes The Water Project different is accountability. Every project is tracked, reported on, and followed up — so donors and supporters can see exactly where the money goes and what it builds.

→ See Candella’s contributions to The Water Project

What Clean Water Access Actually Changes

The impact of a single clean water project extends far beyond the well itself:

Children — especially girls — return to school instead of spending hours collecting water
Families stop drinking from contaminated streams and ponds
Illness rates drop, reducing healthcare costs and lost workdays
Women reclaim time previously spent on water collection, investing it in their households and livelihoods
Communities gain the stability to plan for the future

These aren’t abstract outcomes. They’re documented, reported, and visible in the communities The Water Project serves.

How Your Purchase Contributes

When you buy from Candella, you’re not just choosing a refillable, lower-waste candle. You’re contributing to something that matters beyond your home.

We believe a candle brand can be beautiful, sustainable, and meaningful. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.

The Discovery Scent Bundle is the easiest way to start — four curated scents, a format designed for reuse, and a purchase that contributes to clean water access in sub-Saharan Africa.

→ Shop the full Candella collection