Easy Access to Safe Water for Janet!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Janet. Since then, she and the Thonoa Community of 130 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"My health has improved because we are drinking clean water, which does not expose us to water-related infections. I am now able to focus on domestic chores at home and farming without getting distracted by an illness caused by ingestion of contaminated water," said Janet.

Before the Sand Dam's Installation

Like many in Kenya, 24-year-old Janet is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, that task stole her time and negatively affected her ability to provide for her family.

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 Janet, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to provide for her family, as she was often ill from consuming contaminated water.

"The previous water sources were far away from my home and [I] had to borrow a donkey from the neighbor so I [could] fetch more jerrycans in one trip. The trip along the dusty roads and hilly region made fetching water an uphill task. We managed to only draw a few liters of water which was not enough to irrigate crops, conduct personal hygiene, or perform developmental activities. I would sometimes have to draw water from the seasonal river because it was closer to me than the already implemented projects. This water was unclean and caused infections like typhoid and amoeba," Janet shared.

Since the Sand Dam's 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 Janet’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!"

"I am glad we have enough clean water to perform hygiene duties like washing utensils, garments, and personal hygiene. It takes me less than [an] hour to draw water here and return home. I would spend up to three hours in the past to draw water [from] the previous sources and return home," Janet said.

She continued, "We now have enough water that helps me irrigate vegetables at home and sell to our community members enabling me to be financially independent and take better care of my family's financial welfare."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Janet 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 Janet 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.

"As a group, we have managed to set up a rental building at Thonoa market using water from this project. We have also been growing trees in our homes and I have managed to set up a brick house because I can now easily draw water [to use] for construction," concluded Janet.

Janet can wash her hands!