Alvin is Now Healthy

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Alvin. Since then, he and the 141 students and teachers at Lunyelelia Primary School have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"It makes me very happy knowing that I can drink safe water anytime at school. Fetching water has become easy and safe, and I enjoy it a lot," celebrated Alvin.

Before the Well Installation

Like many children in Western Kenya, 9-year-old Alvin is 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.

The previous water source.

Drinking the water from the previous water source caused severe consequences. Many students and teachers suffered from waterborne diseases, causing health problems and affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility also meant students wasted time collecting sufficient water to meet their needs. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy. Alvin had a hard time staying healthy and engaged at school.

"Before this project, getting water was really hard for me. I had to walk a long way to the spring, and sometimes I had to wait in long lines just to get a little water. The water I drank was often brought from home and was not always clean, so I got sick. It was also scary because the spring was in a bushy area where snakes could be found. Cleaning the classrooms was difficult too, because there wasn’t enough water," recalled Alvin.

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

Students at the well that was installed last year.

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!"

"Right now, I really like that water is always available whenever I need it. Since this project was implemented, my health has really improved. I always have enough clean water to drink, so I don’t get sick like I used to before," said Alvin.

"The best thing about living with clean water is that I always have enough to drink after playing in the field, so I never feel thirsty. I also have enough water to wash my hands after using the toilets and before and after meals," he continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A student collects water from the well.

A year ago, you made a difference for Alvin and his 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 Alvin 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.

"Now that fetching water doesn’t take so long, I can use my time much better. The time wasted before is now spent learning and reading, which helps me improve my studies. I also have enough time to play with my friends during break, which I couldn’t do before because I had to go fetch water," shared Alvin.

"I don’t worry about the safety of the water anymore because it is clean and safe to drink. Before, I was always scared that the water might make me sick or that I could get hurt going to the spring. Now, the water is right here at school, and I can drink [it] anytime without fear. The situation has completely changed, and I feel safe and healthy every day," he declared.

With safety and more freedom in his day, Alvin has time to dream about the future.

"I want to become a policeman when I grow up. I want to help keep our country and community safe by maintaining law and order. I hope to protect people, make sure everyone follows the rules, and make my community a better place to live," Alvin said.