Our Impact
At Zen Basil, our mission goes beyond food.
Every year, we commit to building clean water wells for communities in desperate need across Afghanistan. Since 2019, we’ve completed 42 clean water projects, providing access to clean water for nearly 60,000 Afghans—and we’re just getting started. Our goal is to triple, even quadruple our impact every single year.
These wells are built in the villages of Balkh, Afghanistan—once a thriving center of knowledge, culture, and poetry. A thousand years ago, Balkh was part of the Silk Road, home to Rumi, and birthplace of the Zen Basil founder’s parents. It was known as the capital of education, a place where love poems were born and still celebrated today.
But today, this once-great land is drying up.
In these villages, families living on less than a dollar a day are forced to walk over 10 miles to collect water. And not clean water—contaminated creek water, often shared with animals, is all they have.
According to the United Nations, waterborne illness is one of the leading causes of death today, and tragically, 90% of those deaths are children under the age of 5.
Completely preventable.
That’s why we do this.
Every well we build is a step toward restoring life, dignity, and hope.
Total Water Projects: 42
People with access to safe water: 50,000
Remote Villages
LOCATION: Afghanistan, Balkh
Type of project: Deep Water Well 65M
At Zen Basil, we believe that health and humanity go hand in hand—because giving is receiving.
Clean drinking water might seem like a basic right, but for over half a billion people, it’s still out of reach.
We’re not okay with that.
We believe everyone deserves access to safe water. And while the problem may feel overwhelming, we feel a deep responsibility to do what we can. Because doing good shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be part of every level of how we live, grow, and give.
Birthplace of Rumi
LOCATION: Afghanistan, Balkh, Khulm Dolat Abad Village
Over a thousand years ago, Balkh, Afghanistan was a thriving center of culture and wisdom. It’s the birthplace of Rumi, one of the world’s most beloved poets—his words of love and truth still echo across borders and generations.
Marco Polo once called Balkh a “noble and great city.” It was a foundation of literature, where poetry was nurtured and souls were inspired.
But today, Balkh is a shadow of what it once was—a land dried up, scattered with ruins, and stripped of one of the most basic human rights: clean drinking water.
If there’s one message to take from this story, it's that nothing lasts forever—except the impact we leave behind. Our actions are our true legacy.
“Love is the water of life.” – Rumi
“What you seek is seeking you.” – Rumi
“Not only the thirsty seek water—the water also seeks the thirsty.” – Rumi
Healing A Nation
LOCATION: Afghanistan, Balkh, Khulm Charsouq
Type of project: Deep Water Well 70M
According to the United Nations, waterborne illnesses remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide—and heartbreakingly, 90% of those who die are children under the age of 5.
The worst part? These deaths are completely preventable, and we’re committed to being part of the change.
Solar Powered
Location: Afghanistan, Balkh, Khulm High School, Hazrat Soltan
Today, these beautiful refugee communities now have access to clean water—powered by solar energy.
Even in war-torn villages with no electricity, we’ve seen that environmental awareness is not only important—it’s possible. By installing solar-powered water wells, we’re not just providing safe drinking water—we’re also introducing sustainable energy solutions where they’re needed most.
We’re incredibly grateful to be able to offer clean water while also empowering villagers with knowledge about sustainability and renewable energy.
Most of us are blessed to have never experienced life without electricity or clean water to drink and bathe in.
Now, together, we can pass those blessings on—offering dignity, health, and hope to communities around the world.