Isata is Drinking Safe Water!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Isata. Since then, she and the Nelson Mandela Secondary School of 351 students and teachers have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"The best thing about living with clean water is the provision of water for drinking purposes. Clean water can be used for other purposes like cooking and practicing good hygiene," celebrated Isata.

Before the Well Installation

Like many girls in Sierra Leone, 15-year-old Isata is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Isata getting water from a distant well before her school's well was implemented.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in the school 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 Isata, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to have her basic needs met.

"For the past years, I was unable to get enough water to drink, [or] clean the school sanitation facilities. I also used to go out of the school compound to fetch water, and that made me have limited time to with my school lessons," said Isata.

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 Isata’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!"

"I like fetching water from this source because the water source is within the school grounds. The water source is also protected and treated frequently to minimize contamination. That makes the water safe for drinking. The water source will help me get enough water for cleaning the school's sanitation facilities. Fetching water is fast and dependable, and that is the reason I like fetching water from this source," Isata shared.

The hygiene training made a big impact on Isata as well.

"My hygiene has changed since the completion of this project. I am able to remember disease transmission. During the presentation on that topic, participants were asked to explain what they saw on different posters so that they would be able to understand how diseases transfers from one person to another. I was also able to learn how to stop the spread of diseases through frequent handwashing with clean water and soap," she shared.

Isata washes her hands at the school's tippy tap (handwashing station).

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Isata and the rest of her school. 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 system hardware, monitor water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water-quality samples to identify risks. We work with our on-the-ground team to resolve them.

You gave Isata a crucial tool for achieving her dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, her enthusiasm and courage will help Isata fulfill her dreams.

Isata shared her hopes for the future. "As a school-going pupil, I will focus on studying my school notes, work on my assignments, and also come to school on time if fetching water does not take long. In the future, I am dreaming [of being] a medical doctor, so I will be able to serve my people."