Musa Changes His Trajectory: From Water Crisis to Law School Dreams

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Musa. Since then, he and the Rosarian Community of 125 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Clean water makes me feel happy and healthy. This is because I am no longer worried to fetch water because the well is always available. It makes me healthy because the water from this well is safe to drink."

Before the Well Installation

Like many in Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Musa 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.

Community member collecting water from the swamp before the well was implemented.

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 Musa, in particular, it lessened his opportunity to collect water he could use for his basic needs.

"It was difficult to fetch water here, especially during [the] dry season when water from the well reduces in quantity. The water fetched from the swamp was not even safe to use at home. Most times, it changed in color, making it difficult for me to use it to launder my uniforms, bathe, and even to wash the dirty plates and spoons before going to school," Musa noted.

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

Musa at the well.

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!"

"It is easier and safer compared to fetching water from the swamp. I hardly fell ill because the water I am using is safe to drink. I now have enough time to study my notes, mostly after school, because I will not spend a lot of time fetching water. The well is very close to our house, and it is open to everyone," Musa shared.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Musa and the rest of his 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 Musa 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.

"I want to be a lawyer when I grow up. Many people have used their influence to [take] advantage of our people here, so being a lawyer will help me to enforce justice in my community and beyond," Musa concluded.