Mr. Oriro's Continued Legacy

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential of a brighter future for the Musiri Community and its 166 residents. Since then, those who call this community home have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

We recently spoke to one of those community members, Mr. Julius Kavosi.

"The spring is very pleasant, calm, and refreshing. The water is cold, flowing smoothly, hitting the tiles, and I just feel good. The place is very clean," Julius shared.

Before the Spring Protection

Everyone needs water to meet their daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this was a challenge for the Musiri Community members and a task that stole everyone's time and negatively affected families.

The spring before it was protected.

Drinking water from the previous source had severe consequences. Many in the community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. Limited access also meant people wasted time collecting enough water to meet their needs and were often injured in the process. The difficult task sapped their physical and emotional energy.

"As shared before by my brother, the late Hezron Oriro, we consumed water that we felt was not safe to certain parameters for consumption. We tried to uplift the standards of the spring with the help of other well-wishers to construct the spring. One of our biggest challenges was access. The spring was completely worn out right from the stairs, the walls, and the floor. The other challenge was contamination from stormwater that came from the road," Mr. Kavosi shared.

Since the Spring Protection

When we first visited this community, we met Mr. Hezron Oriro, who wanted nothing more than for his community to benefit from a safe, clean water point where they could easily collect water without worrying about water-related illness stealing their health and livelihoods. He understood the necessity of clean water for people to thrive. Amazingly, Mr. Oriro saw that dream come to fruition last year.

The late Mr. Hebron Oriro, who celebrated the spring's protection last year.

Sadly, since that time, Mr. Oriro has passed away. Yet, his legacy continues. His brother, Julius Kavosi, has taken on the same goal for his community, maintaining access to a safe, reliable water source. He and the other men of the community ensure that the spring will continue to function for as long as possible.

"So far, we haven't had any issues with the spring. Men who fetch water here usually come together once in a while to slash the tall grasses, prune trees, and bananas to ensure the spring is very clear," he noted.

Your generous gift last year was more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement of your commitment to this community and to everyone's future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Julius (wearing pink) and other community members at the protected spring.

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!"

"Water supports life in all dimensions. Imagine, without rain, which is the primary source of water, we are not able to produce food and till our lands. The best thing [about] living with clean water [is it] means good health, long life, and productive life," celebrated Julius.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Julius and 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 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 everyone a crucial tool for achieving their dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can be confident that, with this precious resource, their enthusiasm and courage will help them fulfill their dreams.

"Good health has been my portion. I feel [that] access to clean and safe water has made my life easier," said Julius.

Not only is Julius' life easier and fuller, but he is also following in his late brother's footsteps and leaving a powerful legacy for those who will come after him - especially his grandchildren.

"It has enabled my grandchildren [to] have sufficient time to do other things like playing, house chores, and homework assignments, as compared [to] before when going to the spring to get water could consume much of the time. Currently, [I] am just at home engaging in farming activities and looking after my grandchildren. My vision is to see them grow [up] to [be] great people in society," Julius declared.

Children at the spring.