Accessible Water Has Changed Tabitha's Life!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Tabitha Kauto. Since then, she and the Ithambangwao Community of 2,500 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Living with clean water means my family and I are healthier because we are no longer exposed to waterborne diseases. It has improved hygiene in my home, and I have more time to focus on productive activities instead of spending hours fetching water."

Before the Sand Dam Installation

Like many in Kenya, 33-year-old Tabitha Kauto is responsible for collecting water to meet her family's daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

A community member gathering water from the distant well, before the sand dam was implemented.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in the community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant people wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Ms. Kauto, in particular, she often sacrificed everything physically and emotionally just to collect water, which often made her family sick.

"Fetching water before this project was exhausting, frustrating, and emotionally draining. I had to wake up at the crack of dawn, often before the sun rose, to begin the long 4-kilometer (over 2 miles!) walk to the undug well. The path was dusty, and during the dry seasons, the well’s water would reduce drastically, leaving me worried about whether I’d even find enough water for my family," shared Tabitha.

"When I arrived, there was usually a long queue of people, all desperate to fill their jerrycans. I would wait for hours, hoping the water wouldn’t run out before my turn. If it did, I had no choice but to try again the next day, which was heartbreaking. I didn’t own a donkey, so I had to borrow one from my neighbor to carry the four 20-liter jerrycans back home. Even with the donkey, the trip back was hard; the weight of the water and the steep, dry paths were challenging. By the time I got home, I would be exhausted, yet there were still chores waiting for me," she continued.

Since the Sand Dam Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this community and Ms. Katuo’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Ms. Tabitha Kauto.

Reliable and clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"The waterpoint is now very close to my home, which makes it easy and quick to fetch water. I don’t have to wake up so early or rely on a donkey. The water is clean and readily available, which makes my daily tasks more manageable," she said.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Tabitha and the rest of her community. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect the system hardware, track water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water quality samples to identify risks. We work with our team on the ground to resolve them.

You gave Tabitha a crucial tool for achieving her dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, her enthusiasm and courage will help fulfill dreams.

"In the past year, I have planted kale and tomatoes, which have improved my family’s diet. The green cover around the sand dam feeds my cattle and goats, helping me keep them healthy. I now have enough time to take care of my household and support my children in their studies," Tabitha shared when asked about how she has used this waterpoint in the last year.

"My dream is to expand my farming activities by growing more vegetables and even starting a small business selling produce. Access to water will definitely make this easier because I won’t have to worry about drought or long trips to fetch water. With reliable water, I believe I can improve my family’s well-being and financial stability," she concluded.