A Year Later: Higher Self-Esteem!

Before we helped the people in Kangalu construct a new sand dam and shallow well in their community, everyone had to walk debilitating distances just to supply their households with water each day, in amounts that were often inadequate for all their needs. The contaminated water that they collected also made them sick, which hurt their health more and more over time.

“In the past, I had to walk about five kilometers carrying water from the distant water point because we are required to carry water to school each morning," said 11-year-old Kalima. "This ordeal was grueling and time-consuming, leaving me with little time to focus on my academic studies or playing with my friends. I could not also get enough water for oral or body hygiene, making me uncomfy in class.”

But now that there's a water point much closer to households like Kalima's, the journey to school is much shorter and less painful.

“The installed water point is easily accessible and enables [me] to spend little time to fetch water," Kalima explained. "I get more time to concentrate on my academic studies and play with my friends. The clean water no longer exposes me to infections like amoeba and dysentery. I have good health and [am] no longer absent from school due to water-related maladies."

“My academic performance has improved because I do not have to walk several kilometers searching for water, and I get more [time] to study and play," Kalima concluded. "I have good health because I have clean and sufficient water to drink. My personal hygiene and sanitation have also improved, enabling me to be comfortable with higher self-esteem.”