Stories from the Field
As we work to provide water, we're committed to helping people like you meet your global neighbors and to realize that we all share the same basic needs. We hope to break down stereotypes and the false distinctions between the so-called winners and losers, rich and poor, the needy and charitable, by introducing you to the people we serve with the respect and admiration they rightfully deserve.
These are stories of hope, told in the words of those who carry out this work every day - our friends in the field.
Ataku Community, Ngache Spring
"Before protection, fetching water from the spring was very hard and muddy, and sometimes during the rainy season, you could slide and get hurt. The method I used to fetch water was down on the ground and there was no drawing point. Whenever I had to fetch water, I had to wait for it to clear because when one person used to fetch, the water was dis...
Kangalu Community
"We used to come to the river and dig river scoop holes immediately after the rains which would provide us with water for some time, once they dried up we would resort to walking to Kasovi earth dam more than 3Km away in search of water mostly using donkeys. Available water sources never provided us with clean water save for human consumption. Some...
Kathuli Community
"It was never easy looking for water for use at home. I used to walk to this river looking for scoop holes immediately after the rains, the water was never safe for human use, but it was the only option. During the dry season, I would walk to the Kasovi Earth Dam more than 6km away with a donkey searching for water. The hunt for water was a whole d...
Kathuli Community
"We used to get water from river scoop holes along this river, the water was not always clean and sometimes it had a color and a bad smell, at other times mum would walk to the Earth dam to fetch water using donkeys, it is far, and only my elder brother would help her since it was far for the other young ones and me. It was not always easy getting ...
Ivumbu Community
"We used to fetch water from scoop holes, which was very unsafe because livestock and donkeys would drink water from the same sources. Often, community members would complain of typhoid, amoeba, and diarrhea as a result of drinking water from the scoop holes. The river bed would dry completely in the dry seasons, and the scoop holes would be dug de...