“Safe Water, Steady Hands: Mary Finds Time to Nurture What Matters”

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Mary. Since then, she and the Kisirani Community of 290 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I love that the water is close by now, and I don’t have to wake up so early or walk for hours to fetch it. It’s clean and safe, so I don’t worry about my family getting sick anymore."

Before the Sand Dam Installation

Like many women in Kenya, 35-year-old Mary is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

The previous, distant water source.

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 Mary, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to care for her family and her farm.

"It was exhausting and frustrating. The journey to the borehole was long, and the queues were unbearable. I would sometimes wait for hours just to get a few jerrycans of water. It felt like all my time and energy went into fetching water, and there was little left for anything else, like taking care of my farm or my family. It was also heartbreaking to see how dirty the area around the borehole was, with livestock defecating nearby, and knowing the water wasn’t safe," Mary shared.

"Carrying heavy jerrycans on my back for such long distances gave me backaches and leg pain. The water was not always clean, and it made my family sick sometimes. Paying Ksh 5 (Kenyan shillings) for every 20 liters was very hard, because money was tight. We couldn’t afford enough water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning," she continued.

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

Mary Muvaka at the well connected to the sand dam.

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!"

Mary exclaimed, "I love that the water is close by now, and I don’t have to wake up so early or walk for hours to fetch it. It’s clean and safe, so I don’t worry about my family getting sick anymore. The queues are short, and there’s always enough water for everyone."

"The best thing is the peace of mind it brings. I know my family is drinking safe water, and I don’t have to worry about sickness anymore. Life feels less stressful, and I have more time to focus on improving my farm and taking care of my children. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she added.

Mary once felt that every day was lost time. But now, with the sand dam and well, she can finally live her life!

"It now takes me less than 20 minutes to fetch water, compared to the three hours I used to spend walking to the borehole and waiting in line. It’s so much faster and easier. I can go in the morning, finish quickly, and have the rest of the day for other activities."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Mary 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 Mary 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.

"I’ve accomplished so much! I’ve planted trees on my farm, and they’re growing well because I can water them regularly. I’ve started a small vegetable garden, which helps feed my family and gives me extra income when I sell the surplus. My farm is greener than it’s ever been, and I’m proud of how much I’ve been able to do in just one year."

"My dream is to expand my farm and create a small orchard with fruit trees like mangoes, avocados, and oranges. I want to grow more vegetables and maybe even keep more livestock. Clean water makes all of this possible because my trees and crops need water to thrive. I know I can create a better future for my family with this water—it’s the foundation for everything I hope to achieve."

Mary watering her crops.