Giving Update: Kala Community

"Initially, water scarcity was a really great challenge experienced in this region. We used to rely on water from scoop holes, an open water source. As a result, many diseases were contracted, such as typhoid, cholera, stomach upsets, and diarrhea. Often, we would sleep at the river beds waiting to fetch water because the water table was very low, and its recharging rate was very low. Household development/ progress was very stagnant, resulting in fights at home and a lack of peace. We would send our children to stand in for us by waiting at the queues, and once the jerrycans are full, we'd go back to carry them back home. Life, then, was very hard," said Anna Mathias.

"Life has changed totally. Getting water from this water point has improved our lives for the better. There no more complaints about illnesses as there were before. We have been using the water to clean our utensils, farm, make bricks, and drink, among other household activities. There are no homesteads without vegetable gardens as we were trained on smart agricultural practices and have had an abundant water supply. It takes less than twenty minutes to draw water from this well. I am very comfortable sending my children to fetch water at any time of the day because it is safe and easy for them to use. Availability of water has made us very independent as we now all have something of our own. We don't have to ask from our men all the time."

Anna Mathias

"Through this project, I have managed to sustain cleanliness, good hygiene, and sanitation at my homestead. Before, I did not have a tippy tap outside my latrine, but now I do. I also built a dish rack for placing my utensils. It's keeping my house very organized. I established a vegetable garden where I have planted various vegetables such as kales, spinach, and onions, which have helped alter my diet at home. I have also sold a few of them to some community members, which has boosted my pockets as I am now able to join a table banking kitty. As a group, we plan to continue saving and eventually purchase a water pump for use at our farms."