"Health is Wealth"

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Vena. Since then, she and the 300 residents who live near the Kakamega Central Police Station have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"Health is wealth. There is nothing that affects lives more than ill health. I have seen family resources get depleted due to sickness. Clean water helps us to avoid unnecessary financial pitfalls by keeping us healthy," declared Vena.

Before the Well Installation

Like many people in Western Kenya, 17-year-old Vena is responsible for collecting water to meet daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

A water vendor brought water before the well was installed.

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 Vena, it lessened her opportunity to stay healthy.

"Whenever the supply was disconnected due to pending bills, we had to buy it from vendors, but couldn't tell where such water was coming from. A lot of time was also wasted because the vendors would have many households to deliver to," Vena recalled.

She continued, "There is a time I drank water that had been bought from a vendor, and within three days I had developed mouth sores. It was so bad that I couldn't eat solid food."

Since the Well Installation

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

Vena collecting water from the 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!"

"Thanks to this water point, I'm much healthier than I was a year ago. I'm now cleaner than before, and I take care of myself better by following all the recommendations of the trainers. The hygiene training introduced the ten steps of hand washing, and that has transformed the way I wash my hands," Vena shared.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Vena 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 Vena 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 Vena fulfill her dreams.

"At the end of last year, I completed my high school education, whereby I did quite well in the final exams. I am currently waiting to join college," she exclaimed! "I would like to become a high school teacher. It has always been my desire to become a teacher so as to influence society through the impartation of knowledge."