A Year Later: Munzakula Community

A year ago, your generous donations enabled us to protect Musonye Spring for Munzakula Community in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – and we’re excited to share this one from local team member Jemmimah Khasoha with you.

The community members have been really happy since protection of Musonye Spring last year. Their lives have greatly improved in the following ways:

- People can get clean and safe water at any time.
- There are now no cases of waterborne diseases, such as typhoid and cholera.
- There is an increase in development activities.
- All the land bordering the spring has fertile crops, thanks to the reliable water.
- Women who lost time fetching water or who spent money to purchase water now have enough time and resources to spend on other activities like farming.
- There is a reduced rate of conflict in the community due to the fact that it is now easy to fetch water.
- The community members use the skills received during the training to better their sanitation and hygiene. This is seen from the sanitation facilities such as tippy taps (handwashing stations) at the toilets, dish racks and also clotheslines.
- The community members have kept the spring clean, apparent by the cleared brush and the good drainage for the excess water.

Protection of the spring is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This spring in Munzakula is changing many lives.

We spoke with Chebet Cheruto and Alex Musonye about how their lives have improved for the better over the past year.

Alex Musonye and Chebet Cheruto

Chebet says she can fill her container with water directly from the pipe in less than 30 seconds. She can even fetch the water while holding her 6-month-old baby! The spring saved Chebet not only time fetching water, but money that used to be spent treating waterborne illnesses in her family. As a result, she opened a small business using the money she saved and is also enjoying her newly found free time!

Alex also said his life changed since the spring protection.

"I used to be absent from school because of stomach problems caused by typhoid," he said.

Those stomach pains are now gone, thanks to access to clean water from the spring.

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise and how you can help.