Mirriam Plans to Become a Nurse

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Mirriam. Since then, she and the Lukala Secondary School, with 386 students and teachers, have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Fetching water from here is part of what makes learning in this school fun. It's so easy and enticing to fetch water from this new waterpoint. The pump is soft and easy to pump. The water is so so clean," shared Mirriam.

Before the Well Installation

Like many in Western Kenya, 17-year-old Mirriam is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Students spent too much time and effort finding water before the well was installed.

Limited access to water at the school wasted students' time collecting enough water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Mirriam, it left her exhausted and discouraged.

"The water we used to have was not so clean. Sometimes you could just see the mud in the water, but we had no alternative. We would fight for [a] drop of water to drink and clean our plates. Sometimes we would go to the river to get water for use at school," recalled Mirriam.

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

Reliable, clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic opportunities, allowing people to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"Clean water assures me of confidence as I walk around because I know I am clean, and just in case I stain [my clothes] as [a] girl, I'll have an immediate remedy, which is clean water," Mirriam said.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Mirriam and 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 Mirriam 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.

"Since the installation of this project, I have been able to settle and concentrate in class. I have seen my grades improve slowly, and I know little by little I'll get better. I use this time to do my personal revision, especially if our teacher is not around. If it's game time, I engage in games on our school field just to give my mind an ice breaker," Mirriam shared.

With more time in the classroom, Mirriam has big goals for her future.

"My dream is to become a nurse. I want to take care of the sick and give them hope. Nurses are ever clean and neat, and I want to practice being neat by using this water."