Stories from the Field
As we work to provide water, we're committed to helping people like you meet your global neighbors and to realize that we all share the same basic needs. We hope to break down stereotypes and the false distinctions between the so-called winners and losers, rich and poor, the needy and charitable, by introducing you to the people we serve with the respect and admiration they rightfully deserve.
These are stories of hope, told in the words of those who carry out this work every day - our friends in the field.
A Year Later: "We get water at any time of the day"
Last year, the students at Matong DEC Primary School used to walk over two miles to collect water from a community waterpoint to meet their needs each day. Construction started on an older well within the school campus years ago, but it was never completed and did not produce water. "Before, the water point was not pure to drink. It [would] dry [u...
A Year Later: A Clean Uniform Every Day!
The community members that live in Mukangu used to face long lines waiting for water, which made everyone frustrated. "The water was open to any form of contamination, making it dangerous to all of us. The path to the spring was in a very bad state, and climbing uphill with the water was hectic. Whenever one thought about going for water to the sp...
A Year Later: Drinking water without fear!
Wekoye Spring has provided water for the people living in Shivagala for years, but in the past, the water being collected was contaminated and made people sick with waterborne illnesses. "The spring used to look dirty and dangerous. Sometimes we used to be sick after drinking water from the spring, which made us miss school," said 12-year-old Fait...
A Year Later: "Fetching water is easy and faster"
Until last year, the chore of collecting water from Musava Spring was time-consuming as community members painstakingly scooped up water from a small pool little by little. And sadly, all of that work only provided contaminated water, which led to poor health from water-related illnesses. "We used to [use] deep containers in the open water source ...
A Year Later: "I like going to school"
The students at Sharambatsa Primary School used to spend all of their energy collecting and carrying water to school each morning. So much so that they found it difficult to concentrate in class. "To me, it was hard because I was forced to wake up early, go to the spring to fetch water, then collect my handbag to school. This made me to hate schoo...