Melissa Enjoys Collecting Water Now!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Melissa. Since then, she and the Gamuguywa Primary School Community of 361 students have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I really enjoy drinking water from the water source," said Melissa.

Before the Well Installation

Like many children in Kenya, 14-year-old Melissa is responsible for collecting water to meet her and her family’s daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, that task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Students collected water from the old water source.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in her school community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant students wasted time trying to collect sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks and sometimes preventing them from being in class. For Melissa, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to learn.

"Collecting water from [the] outside source was really tedious and hectic. The distance to collect water was very far away from the school, and this made me tired especially when the class was ongoing. At the water source, people were overcrowded and this was time-wasting because of long queues," said Melissa.

Since the Well Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this community and Melissa’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality for her, fostering hope for a brighter future.

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

"I have no worries with the new water source. Things have changed; no more overcrowding or going outside the school compound fetching water," said Melissa.

"My health is good; no complaints like [in the] past which I used to have. I really enjoy drinking water from the water source. Living with clean, safe water eradicates diseases caused by dirty water."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Melissa and the rest of her school. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project 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 Melissa a crucial tool for achieving her dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, her enthusiasm and courage will help her fulfill her dreams.

"[My] academic performance has really improved since time is now managed well. I have improved in marks and even in subject ranking which has made my parents congratulate me by slaughtering a chicken for me to celebrate," shared Melissa.

When we asked Melissa what she dreams about doing in the future she said, "To be an environmental activist and help the community in taking care of water sources and teaching people about their hygiene and health."

Melissa fills a handwashing station at the school.