Sarah is Building a Brighter Future!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Sarah. Since then, she and the 140 residents of Eshabaka Community have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"It takes a shorter time to collect water now. I really love fetching water here because everything has been made easier," said Sarah.

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Western Kenya, 53-year-old Sarah 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.

Sarah collecting water before the spring protection.

Drinking water from the previous water source 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. For Sarah, it meant that her opportunities to stay healthy, make progress, and increase her income were limited.

"Water was difficult to collect, and it took hours of dedication to fetch water. Falling down was also rampant because of the area. The long queue at the water point was very discouraging," Sarah said.

Since the Spring Protection

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

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!"

"My health has changed. The water was too open to contamination, and falling sick was easy and quick, but now I feel a change. I have been able to do my cattle rearing well. I always had a dream to have many livestock, and it is materializing," said Sarah.

"Imagine waking up every single day, and the very first thing you have to worry about is whether the water that keeps you alive is going to make you sick. So this clean and reliable source is like a breath of life to me. My experience with water has been a tough journey, but now I have peaceful days," Sarah continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I am saving well, and I am able to be there financially for my grandchildren," Sarah shared.

That is worth celebrating, but it doesn't stop there. Sarah has many accomplishments to report.

"I have bought cattle from my savings, and I felt proud of myself for accomplishing a goal. I sell milk to my fellow community members early in the morning and late in the evening. This has boosted my income, and my livelihood is improving. I have also maintained making soap for my homestead, which has minimized soap expenses. I also keep chickens on a small scale and sell [them] when they are ready," she celebrated.

"This water point has made my life easier. I am not in a rush in the morning. I do my things well at my own pace, [and] watch the beautiful sunset with my family in the evening without worry of water. Having a reliable source of water is the answer," said Sarah.

Now Sarah looks to the future with more hope.

"I have a dream of continuing to rear my livestock and expand my chicken farming activity. And yes, water has made it possible, and it will continue making it easier for me," Sarah said. "In the past, I thought that it would only remain a dream, but seeing it come to life because of water has really warmed my heart."