Giving Update: Jivovoli Community, Wamunala Spring

On a recent visit to Wamunala Spring in Jivovoli, first and foremost we noticed how the community members are filled with so much joy because of the project since water-related problems are no longer an issue to them. Initially, they used to dip water containers directly into the unprotected water point, and as a result, sometimes they could pull up mud hence making it difficult for the next person to draw clean water. Again, the water source was just open and could accommodate all kinds of dirt.

This is no longer a problem here since it was solved when Wamunala Spring was protected last year.

Now, community members are sure of getting clean and safe water from a drawing point that is well defined, and they do not waste time lining up to fetch water. This combination of factors has lead to improved living standards throughout Jivovoli.

Beatrice Chomba, a water committee member, met us at the spring to share what it has been like in Jivovoli since the spring's protection. Beatrice was so happy, and expressed her thanks to our team "for making life so easy for them."

"Since the project was implemented we can now access clean and safe water," Beatrice said.

"The water is also in plenty and looking at the flow you can really get satisfied. Personally, I used to suffer so much from typhoid and Amoeba, I could spend so much money and time looking for medication from different hospitals but still, I could not get any help. I suffered."

Strong flow from Wamunala Spring

But this is no longer the case for Beatrice. Since the project was implemented, she says she has had "no problem, no more getting sick."

"Other community members are happy since it takes them less than a minute to fill their containers and go home, unlike before where women could assemble and wait for [a] long [time] in the queues and sometimes they could engage in unnecessary talks that could, later on, bring fights," she said.

Field Officer Laura Alulu with Beatrice Chomba

Valentine Nasimiyu, a 10-year-old girl in Jivovoli, was also very jovial when we met her, and she had so much to say about how this project has helped her community. First and foremost she thanked our team so much for implementing the project.

Valentine was a bit camera shy

"My life has changed so much, I get clean safe water for drinking, drawing water from the open water point used to be a challenge because children could fall inside but now the drawing point is safe for us children," she said.

"Our mothers don't waste time when they go to fetch water since the water is [in] plenty. Lastly, the school I go to is near the spring hence we get sufficient water to clean our classes, drinking, and for the cooks to use to make for us porridge for break time and lunch. In the evening when we come from school, children can easily get to the spring to fetch water for bathing and wash their school uniforms."

Laura, Beatrice, and Valentine