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 construction in the school, which really affected my performance. [It] was making me miss two lessons per day."

But now, Shaline spends most of her time at school in class rather than carrying heavy jerrycans on her head.

"[The] availability of water has impacted me positively," Shaline continued. "I am no longer going outside the school looking for water and this has given me ample time to concentrate on my studies. It has also helped me improve in hygiene standards in terms of individual cleanliness."

This extra time concentrating on her mind has motivated Shaline to push herself even further toward academic excellence. Who knows where this boost will take her in the future?

"My performance is good," Shaline concluded. "There is no more wastage of time carrying water. Now, [the] availability of water has helped me to achieve my target when it comes to academic performance."

Shaline outside the school.