Increased water access frees up Lencer's time!

Eleven-year-old Lencer recalled what life was like in the Makuchi Community before her community's spring was protected last February.

Lencer used to visit the unprotected spring every day to collect water for her family and to take it to school. It was exhausting.

We installed a well at her school, Makuchi Primary School, which relieved her of the burden of hauling water to school. However, to meet her family's water needs, she still had to rely on the unprotected spring near her home.

"Before drilling was done [at my school], this spring was also unprotected. I used to fetch water in the morning [for] school," said Lencer. "The place was slippery because people used to wash clothes here, and this made fetching quite hard."

Lencer.

Collecting water is now much simpler and less time-consuming for Lencer.

"While at home, I like coming to fetch water because the spring is clean. The water is clean and easy to access. We drink water directly from the spring, and we've never felt sick, meaning our water is safe," declared Lencer.

Having ready access to clean water from the protected spring and having a well at her school has made an enormous difference for Lencer. Now, she is less burdened by collecting water, so she has time and energy for other things.

"[I] am able to go to school on time carrying a luggage of books only. [I] am able to wash fruits, vegetables, utensils, [and] clothes with clean water," she concluded.