Thomas is Healthier and Planning for a Bright Future!

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

"Clean water promotes good health and reduces water related ilinesses. Having access to clean water has helped reduce [the] diseases that previously affected our health negatively. Moreover, it has led to improvement in hygiene practices," said Thomas.

Before the Spring Protection

Like many young people in Western Kenya, 14-year-old Thomas is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole his time and negatively affected him.

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 Thomas, it lessened his opportunity to easily collect the water he needed to meet his basic needs.

"Our water point was not reliable because it frequently broke down. The pipe had been installed in a pool of water, surrounded by mud and layers of rocks. We often had to step into the water whenever we wanted to fetch it, which was very challenging. It left us shivering from the cold, especially when we went for water early in the morning, and caused itching on our legs," shared 14-year-old Thomas.

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 Thomas’ future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality, fostering hope for a brighter future.

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!"

"My academic performance has greatly improved compared to past years. Having access to clean water has enabled me to attend school regularly because I am no longer affected by water-related illnesses like before," shared Thomas.

"Having a reliable water source has given me more time to assist my parents with other household chores such as cleaning the compound, taking care of cows, and also at times helping in farming activities, which has helped us improve our living standards," he continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Thomas 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 Thomas a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help him fulfill his dreams.

"There are no longer concerns or worries. Water is now collected efficiently and requires minimal time to fill a jerrican. This has eliminated unnecessary delays at the water point, as previously experienced while waiting to fetch water. Also, the installation of [a] chlorine dispenser has helped community members further, who may have not [have been] in a position to boil drinking water to treat their drinking water right at the water point," Thomas said.

Now that Thomas has access to clean water and can quickly and efficiently collect it he has dreams for the future.

He shared, "My ambition is to become a teacher, a role through which I hope to inspire and educate future generations. Access to clean water is essential for me to pursue [it] because it ensures my health, well-being, and [the] ability to focus on my studies. By having clean water, I can work hard to achieve my goals and create a better life for myself."