From Unbearable to No Longer Worrying: Isatu's Water Journey!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Isatu. Since then, she and the Katongha Community of 189 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Clean water contributes to one's health and happiness," said Isatu.

Before the Well Installation

Like many in Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Isatu 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, the swamp, before the well installation.

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 Isatu, in particular, it reduced her opportunities to pursue her education and maintain her sense of safety. She used to walk lonely distances that made her nervous to traverse alone.

"Before we had this well, life was unbearable for me when it came to the fetching of water. I fetched water from the swamp, which was a problem considering the distance to the water point. This even made me go to school late since I [had to] do multiple trips to the swamp and use water to do work at home. By the time I was through, I was already late for school. There were times when the water even changed in color. This made it impossible for me to fetch water to drink. This was a problem I used to face," Isatu shared.

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 Isatu’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!"

Indeed, life has changed for Isatu!

"It is easier to fetch water here because the well is just a stone's throw away from my house. In addition, the water is safe to drink, unlike the water we used to drink from the swamp," she said.

She added, "I have improved greatly in my performance in class because I now have enough time to study my notes after school. It was not so in the past due to water constraints. I am no longer worried about safety because I now fetch water from the well in the community. No need to go to the swamp to fetch water."

Isatu easily washes her uniform!

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I want to be a lawyer when I grow up," she declared.