Life is Much Easier for Everyone at Shamim's School

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Shamim. Since then, she and the 730 students and teachers of Emukaba School have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I like fetching water here because it’s easy and quick. The water is readily available within the school, clean, and safe for use, which makes life much easier for everyone," said Shamim.

Before the Well Installation

Like many children in Western Kenya, 14-year-old Shamim 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.

The previous water source.

Drinking 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. For Shamim, it meant she missed out on learning opportunities.

"It was chaotic because we had to move long distances to fetch water, and many people were always crowded at the spring. Sometimes we had to wait for a long time to get even a small amount of water, which made it difficult to keep the school clean and start lessons on time," Shamim recalled.

Since the Well Installation

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

Shamim (front left) with classmates at the well.

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 that it helps me live a healthy life free from waterborne diseases. I can drink, wash, and clean safely, which keeps me strong and active every day," Shamim celebrated.

"I no longer worry about safety when fetching water because the water point is within the school compound. Before, we had to go outside the school to the spring, which was sometimes risky and time-consuming. Now, fetching water is safe, easy, and well-organized," she continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"My academic performance has improved since the water point was installed because I no longer waste time going to the spring to fetch water. I now have more time to study and attend all my lessons without interruptions," Shamim said. "My dream for the future is to become a teacher so that I can impart knowledge to others, help children learn, and make a positive difference in my community."

Shamim waters the school garden.