A Year Later: "I am just happy."

Before we protected the spring in Shianda, fetching water for community members was an arduous, time-consuming task. First, they would have to wait in line. Then, when it was their turn, they had to stand on slippery rocks placed in the water, scooping water from the surface and pouring it into their jugs. This painstaking process was meant to keep dirt and algae from entering their water jugs. If someone fetched water without care, it would muddy the water for the next person in line.

They would repeat this process multiple times per day, which left them without time for other tasks.

"We fetched water from the small pool dug for us to fetch from," said 10-year-old Faith.

Since the spring's protection, however, everything has been made easier. People expend so much less energy fetching water because all they have to do is place their jerrycans beneath the discharge pipe and go.

"We use stairs to access [the] water, fetch [it], and go home easily," Faith said. "People fetch water without making the water dirty. The water flows smoothly [as] well."

The improvement has improved moods and lessened the amount of time taken for chores all over Shianda.

"[I] am just happy," Faith said. "Since the day [the] spring was constructed, we [have] played with [the] water, enjoying the flow and how clean it was. I wash [our] utensils (dishes) every day using this water."