A Year Later: Shikhuyu Community

A year ago, generous donors helped protect Andebe Spring for Shikhuyu Community in Kenya. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow 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 Jacqueline Shigali with you.

The entire village has completely changed for the better. Men were seen helping carry out domestic work like fetching water from the spring and feeding animals. Children seemed to be all-round healthy, and happiness was visible all over their bright faces. We are encouraged that the community members are keen to follow everything they learned during the water and sanitation training last year.

Every home now has a pit latrine, dish rack, and nearly everyone has dug compost pits. The environment is serene with compounds swept clean. We spoke with Village Elder John Memba and 8-year-old Dickson Aswani about how their lives have changed for the better over the past year.

John Memba

"Diarrheal diseases have reduced because of the clean water from the protected spring and adherence to proper hygiene practices that were discussed in the training," Mr. Memba said.

"This has led to improved living standards because all resources that the community members could part with earlier in order to seek medication have now been redeemed and are being channeled to other profitable ventures."

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 Shikhuyu is changing many lives.

Children no longer miss lessons as a result of avertable sicknesses such as diarrhea. Dickson was so happy that this spring helps him get clean water and latrines at home provide a place to use the bathroom.

Dickson Aswani

"I do not suffer from any diseases associated with poor hygiene and dirty water because donors brought solutions through the project at Andebe Spring and they did the same at my school, Ebukanga Primary," he said.

Dickson is a witness to the fact that children hardly miss lessons at Ebukanga Primary School (see the project here). He has not suffered from any disease since the spring was protected.

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.