Giving Update: Chegulo Community, Yeni Spring

October, 2019

A year ago, your generous donation helped Chegulo Community in Kenya access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Mary Japheth. Thank you

Giving Update: Chegulo Community, Yeni Spring


Field Officer Jacklyne Chelagat shared the following reflection after her recent visit to Yeni Spring in Chegulo, a year after the spring protection was completed:

"The community has observed a lot of positive changes in their livelihoods since the protection of the spring. It is now easy to access the water point and fetch water without much straining. The water point is so safe for them to draw water. The spring is now convenient and accessible not only to the adults but also to the disabled and children. Before the spring was protected, the path to the spring was so slippery and so dangerous to users.

The spring is now safe and accessible. Members of this community have done well in implementing what they were taught during training on hygiene and sanitation. Waterborne diseases have reduced and their home environment has been kept clean."

While there, Field Officer Jacklyne interviewed community members to learn how the spring protection has impacted their lives over the last year.

"People in my community can now access clean and safe water with ease, no contraction of water- and sanitation-related diseases and community members are energetic to get involved in developmentally conscious activities. As a community, we must admit that since the protection of our spring we have not had major challenges in as far as water and sanitation are concerned," said Susan Makhokha, secretary of the spring's water committee.

Teenager Mary Japheth met Jacklyne at the spring and eloquently described how the project has made a difference in her life as a student in the community.

Young boy enjoying the spring water

"Our spring is well maintained and so safe and does not run dry even during [the] drought," she said.

"Before the protection of the spring, we used to be late to school almost daily. The reason [for] our lateness was attributed to the time we wasted while going to fetch water."

This is not the case anymore, however, as Mary explained that the protection has helped speed up their water collection.

(We are also working with Mary's school to see if we might be able to help alleviate some of their water stress so that students no longer have to carry water from home!)



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