Gertrude is Happy to be Healthy Enough to Farm!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Gertrude. Since then, she and the Emukhalari Community of 350 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"My health has changed drastically because of the clean water we are consuming now."

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Kenya, Gertrude Bushuru is responsible for collecting water to meet her and her family's daily water needs. You may remember her story from the community profile. Before last year’s water intervention, she often suffered from water-related illnesses because the water was unsafe to consume.

Gertrude collecting water from the spring before it was protected.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences, stealing her health and affecting their daily life. For Gertrude, it lessened her opportunity to be strong enough to farm, provide food for her family, and maintain her financial resources.

"Before this waterpoint was built, we used to suffer from waterborne diseases as a result of drinking contaminated water. The discharge pipe was too low, making the stagnant [water] mix with clean water while fetching water. This increased the chances of consuming unclean water. The stagnant water at the drawing point made us feel so uncomfortable stepping [into it] while fetching water," shared Gertrude.

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 Gertrude’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Gertrude (center) with other community women at the protected spring.

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 best thing about living with clean water is improved health. Clean water supports proper hygiene practices such as handwashing, bathing, and cleaning. This contributes to a cleaner environment and reduces the risk of infection and illnesses," said Gertrude.

"Before this waterpoint was implemented, we used to drink contaminated water, and that led to sickness. I used to suffer from stomachache issues. I was not able to go to [my] farm daily because of the sickness, but ever since this water point was built, I have never been sick, and this has enabled me to go to the farm every day. This has greatly improved my farm produce," she recalled.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Gertrude 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 her 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.

"Since this waterpoint was built, the number of illnesses caused by waterborne diseases has decreased significantly. Fewer trips to health clinics and hospitals have resulted in more time for daily activities and less financial burden. With reliable water and [the] availability of time, [it] has enabled me to increase my farm produce, which has led to [an] increase of [my] family finances," Gertrude said.

"Access to clean water has brought many positive changes in my life over the past year. It has helped me stay healthy, work harder, and take real steps toward my dream of becoming a successful farmer. Over the past year, I was able to grow my own crops successfully for the first time. With clean and reliable water, I planted, cared for, and harvested vegetables that fed my family and were even sold in the local market," she continued.

"My dream for the future is to become a successful farmer. I want to grow healthy crops, support my family, and contribute to feeding my community. Clean and reliable water plays a major role in making this dream possible," Gertrude concluded.

Gertrude tends her livestock.