Sallamatu is Happy and Healthy!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Sallamatu. Since then, she and the Tombo Lol Community of 240 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"It makes me healthy and happy. Healthy because I drink clean water. Then happy because water is always available for use," - Sallamatu.

Before the Well's Rehabilitation

Like many girls in Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Sallamatu is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

The distant well the Tombo Lol Community used before their well was rehabilitated.

Many in her community suffered from the water crisis, affecting their daily lives. Limited accessibility 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 Sallamatu, in particular, it affected her ability to live a full life. Collecting water took most of her time, leaving room for little else.

"It was not easy for me to fetch enough water, especially in the morning hours. This was due to the walking distance and long waiting time at the waterpoint. I wasted a lot of time in the morning trying to fetch and transport water. There are times [when] the well [would] get dry. All this made me suffer to fetch water," she shared.

Since the Well's Rehabilitation

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

Sallamatu collects water from the rehabilitated 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!"

"I now have enough time to launder my school uniforms and play with my friends after school. This was something that I found difficult to do. Also, I am now able to study and do my homework at night," she said.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Sallamatu 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 Sallamatu 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 want to become a lawyer when I grow up. I believe, with God at my side, I'll be able to accomplish it with hard work," Sallamatu shared expectantly.