Less Water-Related Illness and Stress for Kasembi!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Kasembi. Since then, she and the Kamuuwani Community of 800 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Fetching water here is like a dream compared to before. It’s close by, so I don’t have to spend hours walking or waiting in long lines. The water is clean and safe, and I don’t have to worry about my family getting sick."

Before the Sand Dam Installation

Like many women in Kenya, 46-year-old Kasembi 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.

The previous water source - a scoop hole in a dry riverbed.

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 Kasembi, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to make progress in her daily life as she constantly fought exhaustion and water-related illness.

"Last year, water was a constant struggle. The scoop hole at Iguini River was far—5 kilometers is not a short distance, especially when you’re carrying heavy jerrycans back home," shared Kasembi.

"The water was dirty, [and] contaminated with animal waste and dust, and many of us got sick from drinking it. I remember getting stomach upsets and typhoid more times than I can count. During the dry season, the scoop hole would run dry, and we’d be forced to buy water from motorbike vendors at a very high cost. It felt like we spent most of our time and money just trying to survive, with little energy left for farming or taking care of our animals," she continued.

Since the Sand Dam 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 Kasembi’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 good to fetch water without stress, knowing there’s enough for everyone. I like seeing the community working together around the well—it brings us closer and gives us hope for a better future," Kasembi said.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Kasembi and the rest of her 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 Kasembi 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 her fulfill her dreams.

"The hygiene training was an eye-opener. What stood out most for me was learning how simple practices like washing hands with soap, covering water containers, and treating drinking water can prevent so many diseases. I learned the importance of keeping the waterpoint clean and protecting it from contamination. It made me realize how much our health was tied to how we handled water, and it has changed how I do things at home," said Kasembi.

Kasembi pumps water at the well attached to the sand dam.

"My health has improved so much. I used to get stomach upsets, typhoid, and amoeba often, but now I hardly fall sick. With clean water, my family and I are healthier and have more energy. I’ve been able to focus on my farm, and I’ve even started growing vegetables, something I couldn’t do before because, previously, we did not have enough water to irrigate our crops. Now, I have a thriving garden that helps feed my family," Kasembi continued.

"My dream is to expand my farm and grow even more crops to sell. I want to build a small irrigation system and maybe start keeping more livestock, like cows or goats. I hope to educate my children and give them opportunities I didn’t have."

Kasembi watering her garden.