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: Heavy Load Lifted!
Lwombei Primary School student, Byron, 13, shared what it was like before his school's rain tank was installed last year. "Every morning we used to come to school carrying a jerrican of water and a bag of books. During the day if water needs arose class lessons could be paused for us to go and get water. It consumed a lot of our study time," said ...
A Year Later: "People are living as one."
"My family has been a victim of typhoid after consuming water from the spring, and this has caused me to use a lot of resources to cater to our medications," said John Magana, Chairman of Muyundi community's Water User Committee. "The initial situation was terrible. During [the] rainy season, there was a lot of dirt getting into the water renderin...
A Year Later: All Routes of Contamination Are Blocked!
Before Wanyama Spring was protected in Christine's community of Indulusia last year, it was difficult to access water that wasn't contaminated. "I used to dip the container under the water for it to fill," Christine said. "By so doing, a lot of time was wasted waiting for water to clear up before the next person draws water." But things have chan...
A Year Later: Adequate Water for People, Plants, and Animals!
Before we installed the sand dam and shallow well in Syonzale Community, obtaining water for everyone's activities was a constant struggle. "We had to walk for about two kilometers searching for water from the rivers, which was exhausting and time-consuming," said 13-year-old student John M. "This negatively affected my academic performance since...
A Year Later: Improved Food Security and Health!
Before we installed the sand dam and shallow well in Syonzale, life for community members involved a lot of struggle. “We experienced a lot of water scarcity issues such as long walks to the river and time wastage because we could spend most of the day searching for water," recalled 53-year-old Mbitha Mwende, the chairperson of the community's W...