Wycliffe Dreams of Becoming a Leader!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Wycliffe. Since then, he and the Kamunyu Community of 300 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"What I like most is that the water point is very close to our home. It only takes a few minutes to fetch water now. The water is clean, safe, and always available, which gives me peace of mind. I also like that I don’t have to struggle or queue for long like before. Fetching water is no longer a burden," said Wycliffe.

Before the Well Installation

Like many young people in Kenya, 17-year-old Wycliffe was responsible for collecting water to meet his daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole his time and negatively affected him.

Before the well installation last year, community members used scoop holes.

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 Wycliffe, in particular, it reduced his opportunities to stay healthy and remain in school.

"Last year, getting water was one of the biggest challenges for me. I used to spend most of my evenings, weekends, and holidays walking long distances to fetch water for my family. The scoop holes and the dug well would sometimes dry up, and the water we found was often dirty. Because of the unclean water, I would get sick with stomach problems, and this made me miss school. All of this took away my time for studying and playing, and it affected my school performance," shared Wycliffe.

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 Wycliffe’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Wycliffe (blue shirt) pumps water from the well.

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!"

"Fetching water before the project was very tiring and stressful. I would walk several kilometers carrying heavy containers, sometimes more than once a day. The queues at the scoop holes were long, and sometimes we would end up with very little water. The whole process took many hours, leaving me exhausted and with no time for homework or rest. It felt like my entire day revolved around looking for water," said Wycliffe.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Wycliffe and the rest of his 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 Wycliffe 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 him fulfill his dreams.

"My health has improved greatly. I no longer suffer from the stomach illnesses that came from drinking dirty water. I feel stronger, less tired, and more energetic. Because I am not sick all the time, I rarely miss school now, and I can concentrate better. The best thing is the peace and comfort it brings. Knowing the water we drink is safe makes us feel secure. Clean water also means better hygiene, better health, and more time to focus on important things like school and family responsibilities," Wycliffe said.

"My academic performance has improved. Now that I don’t spend hours fetching water or miss school because of sickness, I have more time to study. I can complete my homework on time, revise more, and attend school regularly. My grades have started going up, and I feel more confident in class. My dream is to study hard, get good grades, and build a strong career that will help me support my family. I want to make a better life for myself and inspire other children in my community. Now that water is available nearby, I believe it will be easier for me to achieve these dreams because I have the time, the health, and the energy to focus on my education," he said.