Clean Water Provides Ngumbau Time to Be a Child!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Ngumbau. Since then, he and the Nzimba Community of 850 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"It feels good to drink clean water whenever I feel thirsty, and I do not have [to] trek the steep terrain to get drinking water." - Ngumbau

Before the Solar Kiosk's Installation

Like many children in Southeastern Kenya, 10-year-old Ngumbau bears the responsibility of collecting water to meet his and his family’s daily water needs. Before last year's water intervention that task stole his time and negatively affected his health.

Drinking the water also caused severe consequences. Many in his community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant people wasted time trying to collect sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Ngumbau, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to enjoy his childhood and pursue his education.

Nyamai (previously interviewed) showcased the difficult terrain they had to traverse.

"I used to be sent to go and fetch water from the distant shallow well and walking up the steep hill was exhausting. The water [I could collect] was also not enough which adversely [affected] my hygiene. I would also be sent [to] herd goats [and] then take them to drink which was still exhausting. I barely got time to play with my friends or do my homework," Ngumbau shared.

"It was very frustrating to go and fetch water from the shallow well because of the steep terrain. I would return home very exhausted. I could not make more than a single trip and the water was not enough for conducting hygiene. There were times that I had to bear with thirst at home while I waited for my mother to return home with water," he continued.

Since the Solar Kiosk's Installation

The solar pipeline in the Nzimba Community ferries water from the group’s maturing sand dam through a network of underground pipes.

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

Ngumbau (right) collecting water at the solar kiosk.

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

Ngumbau's struggles have lessened since the installation of the solar kiosk! When we asked him what he liked about the project he said, "It is very close to home and I can fetch water easily any time." That's a big deal!

The solar kiosk is easily accessible to the community!

Since the kiosk is close to home, he has time for the important things in life.

"I spend my time reading and growing trees here at home. I also play with my friends," Ngumbau continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

You made a difference for Ngumbau and the rest of his community a year ago. 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 Ngumbau a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help him fulfill his dreams. With high hopes and easy water access, he has big plans for his future!

"I am studying hard to get impressive grades, so I can get a good job in [the] future and help my community," Ngumbau concluded.