Mr. Muthusi Celebrates Clean Water for His Students!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for teacher Simon Muthusi and his students. Since then, the 573 students and teachers have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"We like fetching water here because it is within the school grounds and it is clean, preventing exposure to water-related infections that would occur in the past."

Before the Rain Tank Installation

Like many teachers in Kenya, 43-year-old Simon Muthusi was responsible for ensuring there was sufficient water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task consumed his and his students' time, with negative effects on them.

Students carrying water from unknown sources before the rain tank installation.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many students suffered from waterborne diseases, which created health problems that affected their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant they wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Mr. Muthusi, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to be fully engaged in teaching.

"We experienced a lot of water scarcity in the school because we only had one plastic rainwater tank, which could not harvest adequate water for all of us. Therefore, we had to purchase water at about Ksh 60,000 ($465 USD) annually, which drained the school's paltry resources. We also had to request learners to carry water from home, which was mostly acquired from contaminated sources and stored in unclean jerrycans, exposing them to water-related infections such as typhoid, amoebiasis, and dysentery," shared Mr. Muthusi.

"Getting water in the past was a difficult ordeal because we had to rely on the purchased water from the municipality, which at times would be broken or could not supply water due to various issues, including drought. We would request the young learners to bring water to school, which was a daunting task considering that most of them live far away from school. They would arrive late or fail to come to school when there was no water to carry from home," he continued.

Since the Rain Tank Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to this school community and its 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!"

"We are no longer exposed to gastrointestinal cases like vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachaches. We are glad that we have enough clean water in our school that can sustain us during the entire time we are in school," celebrated Mr. Muthusi.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for the Kandwia Primary 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 Mr. Muthusi and his students a crucial tool for achieving their dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, their enthusiasm and courage will help them fulfill their dreams.

"Our students' lives have become better because they have adequate water in the school throughout their stay, and they no longer have to carry water from home; thus, they can concentrate on their studies. Their meals are prepared on time, and they drink clean water whenever they need to because water is just a few minutes away," said Mr. Muthusi.

"They are engaging in sports actively because there is clean water to drink. Our learners are also comfortable when they're in school because there is sufficient water for cleaning latrines and classrooms. They can also wash their hands and clean their utensils without fear of lacking water," he continued.

"We are very proud of our school for completing such a milestone of ensuring water availability has been achieved. Our pupils are coming to school every day and are ready to focus on the day's activities because they are no longer carrying water from home. This waterpoint has not only provided water but also created a sense of hope for a better future for this young generation," he concluded.

Mr. Muthusi helps his students collect water from the rain tank.