A Year Later: Musunguu Community Hand-Dug Well

December, 2017

We are thankful and grateful for this project because things like diseases have decreased and we can now afford three meals a day which come from our small plots in our home. I won’t fail to mention the improved performance for my children who no longer waste time going to fetch water but rather use the time to read and do their homework.

A Year Later: Musunguu Community Hand-Dug Well


A year ago, generous donors helped build a hand-dug well for the Musunguu Self-Help Group in Kenya. Because of these gifts and our monthly donors, partners are able to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner Mutheu Mutune with you.


People no longer have to walk over three kilometers to find water, which wasn't even clean. Now, they have their own clean water source less than a kilometer away for every single group member. The water has enabled them to start a tree nursery where they've planted fruit trees such as avocado, mango, pawpaw, and then some timber trees. Once these trees mature and start bearing fruits, the community will be big suppliers of fruit to the local market. The fruits will also be consumed at the family level, boosting nutrition.

The group saved so much money from vegetable sales that they were able to hire a tractor to do work on their farm.

There is now enough money to pay school fees and to invest in other income-generating activities. The training on hygiene and sanitation has also had a great impact here; no cases of waterborne diseases have been reported since we taught about proper water handling, storage, and treatment.

Mr. Joseph Mutua

We met chairman of the self-help group, Joseph Mutua, at their well to talk about the change he's personally seen thanks to clean water being nearby. "This project has supported my farming because I planted beans which I got 27,000 shillings from and I used 9,000 shillings to buy other seeds for the next planting. The rest of the money I saved and I used to develop my home and support the development of my family.

My children no longer waste time like before, going to look for water for domestic use because we have a water source near us which is clean and safe for drinking. Their hygiene has also improved because they now wash their clothes anytime they want and they take a bath daily. Previously, one could not take a bath daily because we used to spare water. This made us stay and look dirty and uncomfortable when in the midst of other people. Our self-esteem was very low and especially my children could not perform well because of the mockery they would receive from other children at school. We are thankful and grateful for this project because things like diseases have decreased and we can now afford three meals a day which come from our small plots in our home. I won’t fail to mention the improved performance for my children who no longer waste time going to fetch water but rather use the time to read and do their homework."

Eunice Mwende

16-year-old Enuice Mwende agreed and added: "Water for the livestock is also available. Before the livestock would die on the way while looking for drinking water. And diseases have decreased, and I am now more comfortable and confident to talk in social situations."

Staff checking the well at a December 21, 2017 monitoring visit. Clean water is indeed still flowing!


The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to four times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.



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