A Year Later: Water Solved a School-Community Conflict!

Mali Mali Primary School did not have its own water source last year, so students spent much of their learning time doing the exhausting task of searching for, collecting, and carrying water just to meet their basic needs. It was exhausting and frustrating for them.

"We would cover a long distance in search of water," said 15-year-old Samson A. "We were also quarreling with community members for the same water. They were claiming that [we] were making the water dirty whenever we went to fetch [it]."

But last year, a well was installed right on the school's campus, and since then, things have improved for everyone.

"The water point in our school has helped to solve [a] school-community conflict," said Samson. "Getting water from the school compound has also boosted my safety."

Not only are people getting along better and feeling safer, the students now have sufficient time and energy to focus on learning instead of fighting to collect water.

"[I] am now able to get water easily and faster within the school compound. I am now able to spend a lot of time in class. I will also be able to meet my deadlines in doing homework and other assignments," concluded Samson.

Samson with his teacher, Zipporah Kumani, at the well.