Larry Takes Pride in His Farming!

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

"Having clean water brings peace of mind. We don’t worry about illness, and our homes are cleaner and more comfortable," said Larry.

Before the Spring Protection

Like many farmers in Western Kenya, 40-year-old Larry Mulombi is responsible for collecting water to meet his family's and his farms' daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole his time and negatively affected him.

Larry at 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 Larry, it lessened his opportunity to scale his farming to provide for his family.

"Getting water was tiring. The water flowed slowly, so people queued for long periods, especially in the mornings and evenings," recalled Larry.

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

Larry at the protected spring.

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 like that the water is clean and we don’t have to wait for long. Fetching water has become easier and more convenient. Now we just come, fill, and go. The water flows well, so we do not have to wait. It is faster than before," said Larry.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Larry 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.

Larry waters his cattle.

You gave him 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.

"Having reliable water has helped us start mixed farming. We are now able to keep livestock and grow vegetables since we have a reliable water source throughout the year. And by so doing, we are able to put food on the table," Larry noted. "I am most proud of expanding my vegetable garden and keeping more livestock. Having clean water made it possible to increase milk production in my livestock."

Larry has seen the benefits of clean water firsthand since we spoke with him during our first visit to the community. He bravely continued to share his dreams for the future.

"My dream is to expand my vegetable garden and start keeping more livestock. Having access to this protected spring will make it much easier because I will have enough water for irrigation and for my animals, so I can grow more crops and raise more livestock successfully," Larry concluded.

Larry with some of his garden crops.