Peace of Mind For Selfer, Sourced From Clean Water!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Selfer. Since then, she and the Nambacha Community of 630 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"The best thing about living with clean water is the peace of mind it gives me. I no longer worry every day that my children might fall sick from what they drink. Clean water has brought health, happiness, and dignity into my home."

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Kenya, 59-year-old Selfer Wakhusama is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task consumed her time and had a negative impact on her.

A child collects water from the spring before it was protected.

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 Selfer, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to keep her family safe and healthy.

"Before this project was built, life was very hard for me and my family. Every day, I woke up before the sun, carrying jerricans, and walked to fetch water before there was a crowd at the water point. The water itself was not clean because of its source being open to contamination, but I had no choice, because we needed water for our daily use. Many times, my little ones fell sick with stomach pains and diarrhea. This stole joy and resources from my family. Taking children to [the] hospital and buying drugs was not cheap," Selfer recalled.

Since the Spring Protection

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

The spring, a year after protection.

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!"

Selfer described how her life has changed, "Since this project was implemented, my health and my children's health have improved greatly. We no longer suffer from constant stomach pains, diarrhea, or typhoid because the water we drink is clean. I feel stronger now, I can spend more time working in my garden and caring for my family instead of rushing to the clinic. My children also attend school regularly, because they are not missing classes due to sickness."

Joy abounds for Selfer, now that her family has access to clean water.

"What I like most about fetching water here now is the peace in my heart. The spring is clean and protected, and I no longer worry that my children will fall sick from dirty water. I can fetch water quickly without waiting in long lines, and the path feels safe. I even enjoy the walk now because I know I will return with clean, fresh water that will keep my family healthy," Selfer shared.

"What I am proud of in the past year is that my children have stayed healthy and are going to school without missing classes. Clean water has also allowed me to grow vegetables and sell some at the market, something I never thought I could manage before. When I see my children smiling and eating food from our own garden, I feel proud as a mother because I know clean water made it possible," Selfer exclaimed.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"My dream for the future is to see my children grow healthy and finish school so they can have a better life than mine. I also hope to expand my small farming project and one day build a stronger house for my family. With clean and reliable water, I believe these dreams are possible."

Community members add chlorine to their water collected from the spring for added protection.