A Year Later: A Milestone Achieved Collectively!

Julius Livayo, 59, recalled what life was like in the Siekuti Community before his community's spring was protected last year.

"Since the waterpoint was very open [before], crowding was the order of the day. I used to wait in line for those in front of me to fetch water. Scooping the water from the source was tedious and very strenuous; I had to bend with a jug [in] my hand and a 20-liter container [in] the other hand," Julius shared.

Collecting water is now much faster and less physically challenging for Julius and the other community members in Siekuti.

"To me, having this waterpoint in this state is a milestone that could not be achieved by an individual or community alone. You have brought smiles and hope to many people in our community. This spring is easy to access because now we have stairs, which are spacious [enough] to allow for people to move in and out with ease as well as discharging water at a fair speed, which saves on time and is not causing any pain while fetching the water," he exclaimed.

Having ready access to water from the spring has made a difference for Julius, allowing him to painlessly and efficiently collect water, making time for important daily activities and passions.

"[I] am a lover of trees and [the] environment in general. Therefore, my seedlings and grown trees will always have sufficient water for growth, especially during times of drought. With this, I will be able to plant more seedlings and irrigate other plants, thus helping me to earn a living," Julius concluded.