A Year Later: Increased Financial Stability!

Before we implemented a well in his community last year, Farmer Bramwell Mwenzwa, 48, had shared how things were for him and others.

"[An] insufficient supply of water has contributed highly to the poverty levels in the region because we are unable to farm well," he said. "We spend a lot of our finances on [medical] treatment and fetching water at times. Life is hard without water."

When we spoke with him recently, one year later, Bramwell reiterated the same sentiment. "Before the implementation of this water project, getting water was a very difficult task. The river would totally dry out during the drought seasons, and we had to dig very deep scoop holes to access water for use."

He continued, "Farming activities were very hard to sustain. Our crops always dried up because of insufficient water supply. A lot of time was also spent searching for water, especially as we approached the end of the year since most water sources had dried up."

But now, with readily accessible water, things are different for Bramwell and his fellow community members.

"In the past year, we have experienced really great changes such as the consistent and stable availability of water for household uses and farming activities," said Bramwell. "Through the implementation of this project, I have managed to regain my financial stability thanks to [the] availability of water.

"I embarked on the farming of kale, coriander, and spinach for sale as well as for my personal domestic consumption. It takes very little time to fetch water from the well and get back home. As a result, my wife and I are able to engage in other development activities that are less time-consuming or draining."

Bramwell at the well.