The Ripple Effect: A Year of Hope and Health for Josephine!

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

"The best thing about living with clean water is the peace of mind it brings!"

Before the Spring Protection

Like many women in Kenya, 35-year-old farmer Josephine 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.

The spring before protection.

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 Josephine, in particular, it lessened her opportunity to stay healthy and farm.

"Before the water spring project was built, we were really struggling as a community. The water source we relied on was completely open and unprotected, which made it very easy for it to get contaminated. We often found things like animal waste, leaves, and even garbage in the water. It was not safe at all, and many people, especially children, would fall sick with waterborne diseases like typhoid and diarrhea," said Josephine.

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 Josephine’s 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!"

"I no longer worry about my children falling sick after drinking or using the water. That alone is a huge relief for any mother. Clean water has brought good health, and when you're healthy, you can focus on other parts of life without fear. It has also brought dignity. I can bathe regularly, keep my home and clothes clean, and feel confident when I go out. Even visitors who come to my home can see the difference. Before, we used to struggle and sometimes even skip basic hygiene because water was so hard to get. Now everything is different," Josephine remarked.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"In the past year, having reliable water has helped me accomplish so much more than I ever thought possible before. One of the biggest achievements is making and selling soap. During the hygiene training, we were taught how to make soap using affordable materials. I started making small batches at home, and with time, I’ve gained a few loyal customers in the neighborhood. It’s brought me some income that I use to support my children with school items and household needs," said Josephine.

"My dreams for the future are simple, but they mean a lot to me. I want to give my children a better life, make sure they finish school, stay healthy, and grow up with more opportunities than I had. I dream of expanding my small soap-making business into something bigger, maybe even starting a small shop one day. And with time, I’d like to improve our home and even build a small rental house to bring in extra income. Access to clean and reliable water will definitely make these dreams easier to achieve. With good health and less time spent fetching water, I can focus more on working, planning, and saving," she shared.

Josephine waters her cattle.

"What I’m most proud of in the past year is how healthy my family has been. My children have stayed in school without falling sick constantly from dirty water. That alone feels like a huge achievement as a mother. I’ve seen their happiness, their energy, and their growth, something I used to worry about all the time before the project. So yes, I’m proud of what I’ve built with the little I have, and it all started with something as basic, but powerful, as clean water," boasted Josephine.