Melvin Dreams of Being a Pilot!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Melvin. Since then, she and the Gamudusi Primary School community of 273 students have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Water is readily available. I can come with my cup to quench [my] thirst right at the water point," said Melvin.

Before the Well Installation

Like many children in Kenya, 14-year-old Melvin is responsible for collecting water to meet her and her family’s daily water needs. That task stole her time before last year’s water intervention and negatively affected her.

Students collect water from the previous water source.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in her school community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, 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. For Melvin, it stole her energy to learn.

"We used to go to collect surface water in the forest which is quite a distance from the school. It was so hectic because carrying water from that far was very tiresome. The place and terrain are hilly so by the time [you're] reaching school, you are very exhausted. Carrying water to school was another problem as you needed to have a rest at some point because of the bad terrain. The challenge made some of the learners hate coming to school," shared Melvin.

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

Melvin at the well.

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

"Since [the] implementation of this project, I have never gotten sick of water-related illnesses as I used to be before. The best thing living with clean water is good health. Good health makes one to prosper in different areas. There is no wastage of resources used in seeking treatment and also planned tasks are easily achievable," said Melvin.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

Having time in the day not spent collecting water allows Melvin to study more and play with her friends.

"Currently, I have witnessed a slight improvement in mathematics. I was doing badly in mathematics before, but from the last term's results, I was above average. When I grow up, I wish to be a pilot. That is my greatest dream and I would love to visit different places of the world," concluded Melvin.

Melvin with her teacher at the well.