Neo Nubian Edwin Broni-Mensah and the Water That Gives Back
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Edwin Broni-Mensah: The Water Bottle That Gives Life
Sometimes the biggest ideas come during the smallest moments.
For Edwin Broni-Mensah, it was during a squash game at university. Just 26 at the time, he realised how much money he spent buying bottled water. Meanwhile, back in Africa, millions lacked access to clean water.
That moment sparked an idea so simple, it felt genius. What if you could use a reusable bottle—not just to save money or plastic—but to fund clean water in Africa?
From Squash Court to Social Enterprise
Edwin did more than dream. He acted.
He disrupted his academic path and rebuilt his life around this new idea. He entered the gritty world of business—with a single mission: to make water free and accessible.
That idea became GiveMeTap.
A “Naively Brilliant” Vision
The Guardian once described Edwin as a “philanthropist whose scheme is either naively idealistic, brilliant—or both.”
The truth is, it worked.
GiveMeTap allows people to carry a stylish stainless-steel bottle and refill it with tap water for free at partner cafés and restaurants. No judgement. No shame.
Why buy water when tap is free?
70% of profits go to build water systems in African communities that face drought and poverty.
It’s part marketplace, part movement—and all heart.
Making Something Out of Nothing
GiveMeTap started small, in Manchester, with just a few cafés on board. But the response was explosive. People loved the mission. Businesses joined in. Africa began to feel the impact.
In places where water scarcity is a daily fight, GiveMeTap funded real solutions—installing pumps, digging wells, changing lives.
“Many people back home are so desperate, they tap into the main supply illegally. I felt it was time to raise awareness,” Edwin said.
Olympic Dreams, African Roots
Edwin hoped to scale the brand by the 2012 Olympics in London, aiming to serve thousands of international visitors and highlight the beauty of African innovation.
And he did.
What began as a personal frustration with plastic waste and overpriced water became a movement recognised across the UK. Edwin received the “Most Outstanding Black Student in Britain” award from Future Leaders magazine.
Building a Legacy, One Refill at a Time
Edwin’s story isn’t just about a water bottle. It’s about turning a simple act into a global purpose.
He proved that even a small idea—powered by passion and rooted in purpose—can ripple across continents.
GiveMeTap is still growing. And so is its impact.
With every bottle sold, with every refill given, someone in Africa drinks clean water. That’s the kind of change that matters.
