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: From Never Doing Homework to Teacher's Pet!
Thomas M., 12, shared what collecting water was like for him last year before Ucheka Spring was protected. "Initially, I used to take a lot of time waiting for water to settle before drawing," he said. "I was forced to go to the spring very early in the morning or late in the evening for me to get clean water and save on time, too." But now, Thom...
A Year Later: Less Water-Related Illness!
"Before the project was completed, the spring was open to contamination, which was not good for human consumption," said Agnes Inganata, 30. But since protecting Shatuma Spring last year, Agnes' community of Shamoni has noticed a few different benefits. "[There are] no more cases of typhoid," said Agnes. The protected spring means less contamina...
A Year Later: From Picking Out Leaves to Playing With Friends!
Franklin S., 8, recalled to our field staff what it was like to collect water from Moro Spring before its protection last year. He said, "We used to manually remove the leaves from the water in order to get clean water." But since the spring's protection, not only has the amount of debris contaminating the water reduced, but other factors have als...
A Year Later: Spare Time and Money Lead to Brighter Futures!
Before Makale Community's spring was protected last year, so much of the community members' time was wasted dealing with water. "It was hard to get water from this water point because scooping it using small containers could make [the] water dirty easily," said nine-year-old Sakine R. "Water fetched by children like me was not trusted for drinkin...
A Year Later: Ample Time and a Thirst for Knowledge
We asked 13-year-old Shaline A. what life was like before Saosi Primary School got its own rainwater catchment tank last year. "Before the project was implemented, water was the biggest challenge in this institution," Shaline said. "This is because, most of [the] time, I was sent to a nearby stream to carry water for both domestic use and construc...