From Stomach Aches to Smiles: Velma’s Clean Water Journey!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Velma. Since then, she and the Muhoni Community of 230 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I do not worry about safety whenever I come to get water."

Before the Spring Protection

Like many girls in Kenya, 14-year-old Velma 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 member collecting water before the spring was protected.

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 Velma, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to easily collect water that she could trust wouldn't make her ill.

"To fetch water, you had to carry your own jug and sieve first. This is because you had to filter some of the dirt that was in there. If there were many people, you had to wait for the water to settle for you to fetch [it]."

Since the Spring Protection

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

Velma splashing clean 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 have not become sick because of drinking this water at all. Before, even after boiling the water, we would get stomach upsets after drinking the water," Velma said.

"The best thing about clean water is that it keeps us away from medicines, and it does not make our stomachs upset," she continued.

With clean water that is easy to collect, Velma is able to help care for her family's crops. This not only provides food for the family but is also a source of income!

Velma watering crops.

Velma's life is no longer consumed by water collection and sickness; she can now enjoy her days and plan to have fun!

"We get to play and do other things that do not involve cleaning. Sometimes we go to visit our relatives and play with my cousins," she shared.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I want to become a lawyer in [the] future. I want to put away criminals and make the communities safer," Velma concluded.