Resna is Proud of Her Community!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Resna. Since then, she and the 210 residents of Chiterezi Community have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I like that the spring is now fully protected and clean," said Resna.

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Western Kenya, 60-year-old farmer Resna Mmbasu 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.

Resna (with community children) collecting water from the spring last year before it was protected.

Drinking water from the previous water source caused severe consequences. Resna, along with others in her community, suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Resna had a hard time staying healthy enough to attend to her daily duties, and persistent illness stole her resources, time, and money.

"Before the project was built, we depended on a partially protected spring, which was exposed to contamination from surface runoff and other environmental pollutants. The water was not safe for consumption, and I suffered from water-related illnesses such as typhoid. This negatively affected my health and forced me to spend a significant amount of money on medical treatment, placing a financial burden on already limited household resources," shared Resna.

Since the Spring Protection

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

Resna - joyful for clean water!

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

"The best thing about living with clean water is improved health. Since the spring was protected, the water is now safe for drinking, which has reduced cases of water-related illnesses such as typhoid. Families no longer have to spend as much money on medical treatment, and people can focus on their daily activities knowing they have access to safe water," said Resna.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Resna and 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 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 her 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.

"In the past year, reliable access to clean water has helped me improve my farming activities and care for my livestock. With safe water available nearby, I spend less time fetching water. My cows fully depend on spring water for drinking; they do not consume water from any other source, not even the water collected from the rain," said Resna.

Resna continued, "So with this reliability of water from this water point, my cows get to have sufficient water for drinking and enough animal feed, which has led to them being productive by giving more milk for sale and more manure for my farm products. My vegetable farm, which [is] near the spring, also gets to be watered year-round, making the vegetable leaves healthier, hence fetching more sales from the market, especially during dry seasons."

Resna's success over the past year caring for her livestock gives her hope for a brighter future.

"My dream is to improve my farming and expand my livestock so that I can provide a better life for my family. Access to clean water makes this easier because my family stays healthier, and I spend less time and money dealing with water-related illnesses. Reliable water also supports my farming activities and helps ensure my livestock have water, which improves our overall livelihood," said Resna.

There is much for Resna to celebrate personally, but she also feels a sense of pride for her entire community.

"In the past year, I am most proud that my family and the community are healthier because we now have access to clean and safe water. The water point has also brought people together; we get to have our meetings and also coordinate on routine spring maintenance. All this has promoted unity and oneness in our community," Resna celebrated.