A Year Later: No More Sleepless Nights!

"It was like hell for me living in this community," said Hasfatu, a 45-year-old housewife, speaking of the time before we rehabilitated Masoila community's well last year.

Masoila's well would dry out for several months out of each year, making life a challenge for those responsible for fetching water there - the women and children.

"That was the most painful moment for me, especially during the month of Ramadan," Hasfatu explained. "As [a] Muslim, this is the most important period, and the only thing that makes this period a holy period is water, and that is the time that we run out of water from this community. This was a great challenge, and I had to go very far in the neighborhood to fetch water, which sometimes affect[ed] my fasting.

"As [a] Muslim woman, I have the responsibility during the period of fasting to prepare food very early in the morning and in the evening for the family. My husband [would] not care how I managed to cook the food, but the food should be on the table and that is all he cares [about]. Sometimes, I had sleepless nights thinking [about] where I [would] get water from. I believe hundreds of women in this community were going through similar challenges because there was no water available always."

But thankfully, things have changed now for Hasfatu and the other women in her community.

"[You] do not know how joyful I am having water at all times, especially during this period of fasting," Hafsatu said. "This water facility is a blessing to me in this community and I am very happy. The burden I used to have before in terms of water is over and I am now able to do all my domestic work on time and have enough sleep to gain energy for the next day."

Hasfatu collecting water.