Abibatu Dreams of Becoming a Nurse

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Abibatu. Since then, she and the other students at the Bundulai Movement of Faith Secondary School have had access to clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"The water well is right at the school compound, and this makes it easy to access," celebrated Abibatu.

Before the Well Installation

Like many young women in Sierra Leone, 18-year-old Abibatu is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Students collect water from their old water source.

Drinking the water from the previous water source caused severe consequences. Many in the school suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant students wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Abibatu, it lessened her opportunity to learn and dream about the future.

"Before this project was completed, I was walking far distances for water. When I reached the school, I collected the rubber bucket and went to fetch water. The well that was close to the school had no hand pump. I was using a rubber gallon [bucket] and a rope to fetch water from the well. This required time and energy. Due to this, sometimes I walked far distances to collect water from the well at the healthcare facility. This also required time and energy, and this situation led me to skip devotions. I was unable to complete lessons. Sometimes I went to the community to search for water to drink, and I did not have enough time to listen to teachings. This led to poor performance at school," said Abibatu.

Since the Well Installation

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

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!"

"Living with clean water is the best thing because water makes life easy. I no longer walk long distances for water. Drinking clean and safe water prevents water-related sickness. I have more time for school and to complete lessons," Abibatu celebrated.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Abibatu and her school. 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 system hardware, monitor water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water-quality samples to identify risks. We work with our on-the-ground team to resolve them.

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

"Since this water well was constructed, I have more time at school to complete lessons. I am no longer going out searching for water to drink, and I will be in class for lessons. In the end, I [will get] good grades, and with this, I will be able to achieve my dream," said Abibatu.

"I want to become a nurse. That's my dream in [the] future. With the help of this water well, I have more time for school and studies," she concluded.

Abibatu with a friend collecting water from the well.