Gbassay Has the Tools to Achieve Her Dreams!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Gbassay. Since then, she and the Ponka Community of 150 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. The water we use daily must be clean. Otherwise, it will affect us, especially when it is contaminated. Clean water makes me happy because the water will be able to serve its purpose mostly in the area of drinking."

Before the Well Rehabilitation

Like many in Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Gbassay is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

The previous water source.

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 Gbassay, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to focus on anything other than water collection.

"Last year, I faced [the] challenge of fetching water because the well was unable to serve us. This leads to overcrowding. When that happens, I am restricted from fetching water for use at home, and even laundering my uniforms becomes a challenge. The waiting time at this well makes me go to the swamp to fetch water. This is also time-consuming and frustrating because the distance is far, and the water is not pure to drink," she shared.

Since the Well Rehabilitation

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

Gbassay at the rehabilitated 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!"

"Fetching water is easy because the distance is not far, and the well is always open to the public during the day. Even if they close the well, it will be for [a] few hours, and we are aware of the closing time, so this is not an issue. Now, I can fetch enough water that can even serve us for two or three days," she shared.

Clean, accessible water means Gbassay has time and energy to spend on what matters to her!

"Honestly, my performance in school has changed because of the time I now put into my studies. I have enough time now to study my notes than before. This is because I no longer spend a lot of time fetching water. Even after school, I will only do two trips and then launder my school uniforms. At night I will revise what I learnt for the day. No wonder the teachers in school were impressed with my second-term result."

Gbassay hasn't had to worry about her safety either! "I no longer wonder about safety because the well is accessible by all. It is not located in the bush or in an isolated area. I have never faced any pressure or harassment when fetching water from this source."

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

Gbassay has big dreams and the tools to succeed!

"I want to be a lawyer when I complete my studies in order for me to help put an end to corruption, injustice and other crimes affecting my community and the nation."