Marie Expects Greater Academic Success!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Marie. Since then, she and the Mayema Community of 379 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I thank God for this water point because it is the first water point in this community that is closer to me. It will play a great role in my life as it will improve things for me," said Marie.

Before the Well Rehabilitation

Like many young women in Sierra Leone, 18-year-old Marie 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 faraway well that the community had to use before the well rehabilitation last year.

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 Marie, it lessened her opportunity to attend school on time each day.

"The water point was far away from the community. There was insufficient water in the community, which made it difficult for my parents to access safe drinking water and also [water] for domestic use," said Marie.

Since the Well Rehabilitation

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

"From now onwards, I will be able to go to school on time because there is a water point that is close to me," reported Marie.

"I will be able to go to school on time, and that will improve my education when it comes to good grades. The new water point will provide sufficient water for me, which I will use to launder my uniform and also [to] drink. It will help me to practice good hygiene, which I was unable to do before due to the lack of sufficient water in the community. Another improvement is that I will no longer get infected by water-borne illnesses. My health will improve greatly," she continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"There will be a massive improvement in my academic activities because of the new water point. My exam scores will improve, and I will have more focus than before, because I don’t need to bother myself to go out to get water. I will always fetch water from the new water point that I will take along when going to school. I will use it to drink because it [is] safer than the other water points that are close to my school," exclaimed Marie.