Water was Just the Beginning: Veronicah’s Story of Growth

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Veronicah. Since then, she and the Khwiyondwe Community of 245 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I no longer worry about safety when fetching water, because the waterpoint is easily accessible and clean."

Before the Spring Protection

Like many in Kenya, 55-year-old Veronicah is responsible for collecting water to meet her daily needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole her time and negatively affected her.

Community member collecting water before the spring 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 Veronicah, in particular, she lived in fear of debilitating illness and animals that threatened her safety at the waterpoint.

"I used to suffer from diarrhoea and stomachache due to drinking dirty water. I also used to spend a lot on medication, and there was nothing that would make me happy. It was too difficult to fetch water that I would not even send my grandchildren due to [the] bad terrain. The waterpoint used to be a home of wild animals that always threatened our lives," she shared.

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

Veronicah (yellow shirt) at the spring with other community members.

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!"

"The water is clean and easily accessible, which makes me [collect] water with ease," Veronicah shared.

"My health has truly been at its best since the implementation of this project. This has enabled me to do farming, and [I] am saving some money to buy more land."

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I now have a banana plantation where I harvest bananas, sell [them], and use them as food. I used to sell ground nuts in a small container, but my market has now increased. My dream is to buy more land and own a big home, which I know God will fulfill," Veronicah concluded.

The community garden started with the help of clean water access!