Linet Dreams of Dairy Farming to Support Her Family!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Linet. Since then, she and the Wambani Community of 250 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"What I like most about fetching water here now is how easy and safe it has become."

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Kenya, 42-year-old Linet Barasa is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Linet collects water from the spring before its protection.

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 Linet, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to collect sufficient water and remain healthy.

"Last year, before this project was built, we had many problems with water. The biggest one was that the water was dirty and unsafe; sometimes it had a bad smell, or we would see insects and dirt in it. Many people, especially children, would fall sick with stomach problems. The only available water source was contaminated, [and] we often feared for our health, especially the children, because we knew it wasn’t safe," recalled Linet.

"The spring was in a steep, slippery area, and it was dangerous to climb down, especially when it rained. Fetching water was very tiring, and sometimes we had to wait a long time because the flow was so slow. It was a daily burden for our families," she continued.

Since the Spring Protection

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

"The spring is protected, so the water is clean, and we no longer worry about getting sick. It’s also in a much safer spot with proper access, so even children and older people can fetch water without fear. I don’t have to spend as much time or energy as I used to. It has made life so much better for all of us," continued Linet.

"The best thing about living with clean water is how it has made everything easier and safer. I save so much time now, and my children can go to school without falling sick all the time. We can keep our home and ourselves clean, and even food preparation is safer. It has improved our whole way of life, not just our health."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Linet 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 Linet 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 fulfill dreams.

Linet.

Linet reflected on the last year since the water project was implemented. "Since this project was implemented, my health and my family's health have really improved. We no longer suffer from frequent stomach illnesses or typhoid like before. The clean water has made a big difference. Now I have more energy and time because I don't spend hours fetching water or caring for sick children. I can now give my animals water to drink with ease. I can also perform my day-to-day house chores without worrying that there is no water. Life is more peaceful and productive now."

Linet boasted, "In the past year, having reliable water has helped me achieve a lot. One of the biggest things is that I’ve been able to keep cows for milk. Before, it was hard to take care of animals because water was so scarce and difficult to fetch. Now, with clean and accessible water, I can give the cows enough to drink, keep their area clean, and even grow some fodder. This has helped me earn a bit of income from selling milk, and it supports my family."

"My dream is to expand my dairy farming and maybe one day open a small business selling milk and homemade products like ghee or yoghurt. I also want my children to grow up in good health and go as far as they can in school. Having clean, reliable water is making these dreams more realistic. It has taken away so many struggles, and now I can focus on building a better future for my family," Linet concluded.