Dorcas Gains Time to Study and Play!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Dorcas. Since then, she and the Syunoo Community of 350 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Now, I enjoy fetching water from this shallow well because it is very close to my home," said 13-year-old Dorcas.

Before the Well Installation

Like many young girls in Kenya, Dorcas is responsible for collecting water to meet her and her family's daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, that task stole her time, health, and education.

Community members collect water from a dry river bed before the well installation.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in her 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 Dorcas, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to study and play.

"Before the construction of this project life was very hard. We used to get water from very far away (almost 7 km or 4.3 miles) and the water was salty making it unsuitable to drink. We did not have enough water for maintaining our hygiene and sanitation as well as for watering our trees and other crops on the farm. I could go to school on several occasions with [an] unclean uniform because water was scarce," shared Dorcas.

"It was very exhausting to draw water from the distant Enziu River thanks to the dusty roads and burning arid sun. I would spend most of [my] free time helping my parents in fetching water which negatively affected my concentration in school."

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 community and Dorcas’ future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Dorcas collecting water.

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!"

"I am now drinking clean and fresh water from the shallow well which is well-protected against agents of contamination. I am very happy about this project because I am no longer absent from school due to diarrhea or stomach upsets caused by drinking contaminated water," shared Dorcas.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Dorcas 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 Dorcas 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 her dreams.

"My studies have improved because I am no longer absent from school due to water-related maladies. I [am] also more active with classwork because I am not spending a lot of energy fetching water from the previous distant source. I also get more time to play with friends because I do not spend most of my time helping my family draw water from the distant Enziu River," said Dorcas.

"I hope that one day I will be a teacher and since I now have more time to study, I believe I will achieve my dream."