Charles has Found Peace!

Your gift last year unlocked Charles' potential for a brighter future. Since then, he and his community of 200 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"There is peace that comes with it. You are not worried about water or the food being prepared using clean water. We live a healthier life as a result of consuming safe water and improving sanitation activities," said Charles.

"The spring is very close to my home, and it is very clean. At my age, I can easily get water from this water point and feed my cows without bothering anyone. Immediately after construction, we were facilitated with [a] chlorine dispenser. We are now able to treat water before consumption. This has made us have access to more clean water," he continued.

The protected spring, a year later.

Before the Spring's Protection

Like many men in Kenya, 65-year-old Charles feels the burden of ensuring his family has access to the water they need to meet their daily needs. Before the protection of the spring last year, that burden was often heavier because of contaminated water and a spring that was difficult to access.

Before the spring was protected.

Drinking the water had severe consequences. Many in his community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems and affected their daily lives. The spring's limited accessibility meant people wasted time trying to collect sufficient water to meet their needs. Collecting water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks and sometimes preventing them from earning a livable income. This negatively impacted their ability to care for their families. Charles, in particular, was very worried for his family's safety.

"The spring was constructed [a] long time [ago] when I was still a child. The spring got damaged over time, water flooded the collection area, and more spring eyes oozed from the backfilled area. The spring was in [a] terrible state. The spring was swampy. We believed the water we consumed was not safe. We couldn't send children to fetch water because [the] collection area was flooded," shared Charles.

Since the Spring's Protection

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this community and Charles and his family's future. By supporting the protection of the spring, you made clean water an everyday reality for him, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Reliable, clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people like Charles to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

Charles drinking clean water.

When asked what training topics have most impacted his life in the last year, Charles shared, "Soapmaking stood out during the training as it was a new skill I got. I had viewed soap making as a complex process, only to learn it's a simple skill one can learn and run with."

Having experienced this spring as a young child and seeing it once protected but fall apart in time, Charles was eager to ensure that didn't happen again.

"I have contacts for field officers who were in charge during construction. If an issue develops on this water point, I always call them for advice or clarification. [For] issues like drainage opening and cleanliness, we do them without contacting them. We have a water user committee in place, which I lead, and we work together to ensure the spring is properly functional," he gushed.

Charles' Future is Looking Bright!

You made a difference for Charles and the rest of his community a year ago. This is just the first chapter of their story, as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

Charles caring for his livestock.

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people like Charles continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this spring to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect the system hardware, track water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water quality samples to identify risks. We work with our team on the ground to resolve them.

You gave Charles a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help him fulfill his dreams.

"My future is now. My family and community have access to clean water. This has been my dream. I have a legacy of enabling my grandchildren to have access to clean water," concluded Charles.