Fatmata Fetches Water Easily!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Fatmata. Since then, she and the Kathoma Community of 180 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Water is clean and safe to drink. It is monitored and chlorinated," reported Fatmata.

Before the Well Installation

Like many girls in Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Fatmata 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.

Community members collected water from the swamp before the well was installed.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in the 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 Fatmata, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to obtain water and maintain her personal hygiene.

"It was very hard for me to fetch water in the community before this project provided a water well. I often walked a long distance to fetch water from the pump and [the] river. The river water [is] open to contamination, and people bathe in the water, which contributed to contaminating the water. I could not go to school on time or launder my uniform on time. Sometimes, I went to school without bathing," Fatmata said.

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 Fatmata’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!"

"The water well is very close to my house. It has a fence and [a] handpump. I fetch water easily, and the water coming out is clean and safe to drink. My hygiene has changed, and I am able to practice what I have learnt from the hygiene training," Fatmata said.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I want to become a nurse so I will be treating people in the community and the country at large. Educate them on disease transmission," she declared.