Jacob Dreams of Being an Actor!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Jacob. Since then, he and the Imbiakhalo Primary School of 1,372 students have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"The water is clean, safe, and easy to collect."

Before the Well Installation

Like many school children in Kenya, 12-year-old Jacob is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole his time and negatively affected him.

Students hauling water before the school well was installed.

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 Jacob, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to attend school regularly.

"Before this new waterpoint was installed, I had to either bring water from home or go and collect from the community well outside the school premises. Since my home is not close to the school, I often preferred the community waterpoint. However, fetching water there was a chaotic and time-consuming experience. Adults would not allow students to collect water before them. A lot of time was lost due to the long queues. Moreover, that waterpoint was unreliable due to its frequency of breakdown," shared Jacob.

Since the Well Installation

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

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!"

"It feels really good, knowing that the water I use at school is clean and safe, with absolutely no reason to worry about getting sick! I no longer get stomach bugs like I used to. Initially, I would skip classes after contracting waterborne illnesses. Thanks to this new waterpoint, that's a thing of the past," Jacob declared.

"There is no reason for me to worry about my safety because I don't need to cross the road to fetch water. I no longer compete with adults to collect water, and that is a huge relief for me."

Jacob (left) with friends at the well.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Jacob and the rest of his school 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 Jacob a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help fulfill dreams.

"Over the past year, I have managed to improve my grades, and even my parents have noticed the improvement and are really proud of me. I'm now able to allocate more time to studies, group discussions, and revision. I finish my school assignments on time and still get enough time to play with friends. I have thought of many things that I can do in the future. However, I'd love to get into the film industry as [an] actor where I feel my talents will be properly utilized," Jacob said.

Jacob watering the school garden.