Umu Can Achieve Her Goals!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Umu. Since then, she and the Robombeh Community of 450 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

Before the Well's Rehabilitation

Like many children in Sierra Leone, Umu is responsible for collecting water to meet her and her family’s daily water needs. Before the well rehabilitation last year, that task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Drinking the water caused severe consequences. Many in her community suffered from waterborne diseases that created health problems, affecting their daily lives. The well had a limited water supply, which meant people had to travel four miles to collect water from another source. The difficult journey to collect water sapped their physical and emotional energy, creating roadblocks. For Umu, the roadblocks lessened her ability to practice good hygiene and pursue her education.

"Before, it was a burden for me to access water in my village and this would cause me to wake up in the morning to go to the stream. Walking a long distance to access water from the swamp is not easy. It was hard to go to school on time. Sometimes I [would] go to school late and get punished," shared 17-year-old Umu.

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

Reliable and clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people like Umu to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"It was bad to drink unsafe water because, when I drank such water I [was] exposed to water-related diseases. But now, this waterpoint, [has] impacted my life because drinking clean and safe water contributes to getting good health. I will not get punished anymore and focus on my studies," Umu continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!
A year ago, you made a difference for Umu 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 Umu 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 her fulfill her dreams.

"This waterpoint has helped me to achieve my goals like preparing food for the family [since] I usually assist my mother in cooking. Also, I go to school on time and launder my uniform when I get off from school. I study my school notes," concluded Umu.

Umu at the well.