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: A Responsible Girl
Before we helped Kyamwalye Community construct a sand dam and shallow well in their community, water was scarce, and people had to travel long distances to get it. "Getting water was not easy," said 11-year-old Mirriam W. "The water was always being obtained from far distances, most of the time it [was] my mum and my elder siblings who were involv...
A Year Later: "I love the fact that we have clean water."
Life without sufficient accessible water at Nzoila Secondary School was challenging for students. Although they brought water to school, they still went thirsty most of the day and found it hard to concentrate in their classes. “Initially, water scarcity affected us so much," said 18-year-old Naomi R. "We used to depend on water from [the] River...
A Year Later: Improved sanitation conditions for patients!
The Lungi Government Hospital desperately needed clean water before the well on the hospital campus that the staff relied on was rehabilitated last year. "Before the rehabilitation of this well, getting pure and safe drinking water was a big issue. We found it difficult to run [the] sanitation affairs of the hospital, especially the cleaning of th...
A Year Later: "I am healthy and strong"
The community members of the Emalingana Community used to collect and use dirty water because they had no other choice when their spring was unprotected. "I always felt bad whenever it was time to get water because the water was always dirty," said 60-year-old farmer and chair of the water user committee, Sophie Atemba. But after the spring was p...
A Year Later: "The water is clean and safe for drinking."
When we first visited the Kalangba Junction Community, people were collecting and drinking dirty water because they had no other options. "The time this water facility was not completed, we only had open wells as sources of drinking water in the community, and it was very difficult fetching water from there. I was not having enough time to play wi...