A Year Later: No More Carrying Water to School!

The students at Mutulani Primary School used to spend much of their days before and even during classes searching for and collecting water because there was no available water source on their school campus.

"Initially, we experienced a lot of challenges pertaining [to] water. We had to carry water from home. Myself, I would walk for almost a kilometer with a bag on my back and one hand holding a jerrycan of water and [in] the other a log of firewood," said 13-year-old Mutuku M.

But since a large rain tank was installed on the school campus last year, things have been different for students, so they are now able to stay in class and are alert enough to learn since they are not exhausted from hauling water.

"Now, life has greatly changed as we have clean and adequate water for drinking, cooking, and maintaining our hygiene. Currently, we never get late to school because we do not have to carry water with us. It is very fast and easy to draw water from the water tank any time of the day," Mutuku continued.

"I have even started enjoying attending my classes daily without missing [them]. I do all my homework on time and also have enough time to do my revisions (studying). I am hoping to do exemplary well in the final exams," said Mutuku.

Another added benefit of having water within reach at the school is that Mutuku has time to spend with her friends playing, which she is pretty pleased about.

"In the past one year, I have had enough time to play with my friends,” concluded Mutuku.

Mutuku in front of the rain tank.