Eric Dreams of Becoming a Doctor!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Eric. Since then, he 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 academic scores have improved because I am no longer burdened with fetching water at home every evening after class or during holidays." -Eric

Before the Hand-dug Well's Installation

Like many in Kenya, 15-year-old Eric is responsible for collecting water to meet his daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, that task stole his time and negatively affected him.

Drinking the water 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 collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Eric, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to do anything other than collect water, putting his life on hold while trying to survive the water crisis.

"We did not have enough water at home; thus, I would use most of my free time after school to go and fetch water from the distant shallow well or seasonal river. I was also taking our cattle and goats to the river to drink water, and I would grow exhausted from these activities because of the long distance involved. The lack of adequate water [at] home had a negative impact on my hygiene because water was used sparingly. There were even instances where there was no water to drink at home and this caused headaches because of thirst," Eric lamented.

Since the Hand-dug Well'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 Eric’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Eric at the well.

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!"

"My health has now improved because I am always drinking clean water from this waterpoint, unlike before when I had to rely on unclean water from the seasonal river. I now get time to play with my friends and also focus on my studies. I use my time to study or help with light duties at home like herding the goats," Eric shared.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Eric and the rest of his 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 Eric 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 fulfill his dreams.

"I hope that one day I will be a doctor and the availability of water in our area will ensure I have [a] comfortable time studying and [can] achieve better academic grades," Eric concluded.

Eric washes his hands thanks to clean water access.