"The Best Thing is That We Don't Worry Anymore!"

February, 2026

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Savali. Since then, he and the Museesu Community of 300 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I like fetching water here because it is very close to home. It takes me only a few minutes to fetch water and return back home," declared Savali.

Before the Well Installation

Like many children in Kenya, 11-year-old farmer Savali is responsible for collecting water to meet his daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, this task stole his time and negatively affected him.

Collecting water from the previous watersource — scoop holes in the dry Iguini riverbed.

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.

"Before this project was implemented, I had to help my mother in fetching water during holidays, weekends, and even in the evening after school. Walking to [the] Iguini River to draw water took most of my time, and I would often find long queues. We were sharing the scoop holes with our goats and cows, who would contaminate the open scoop holes, and this exposed us to typhoid, amoeba, and various other water-related infections," said Savali.

"It was exhausting. The walk was long and tiring, especially when carrying full jerrycans on our backs. I remember times when I felt sick from drinking that water, and it really [was] an unfortunate event. But we had no other choice," Savali recalled.

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

Savali (in red) with other community members at 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!"

Savali drinks while his friend pumps water from the well.

"I am now drinking clean water without worrying about thirst because there is adequate clean water. My mother has enough water for cooking, and I am taking meals on time and several times during the day. I am no longer exposed to water-related illnesses like before, thanks to the clean water," Savali celebrated.

"The best thing is that we don’t have to worry anymore. We can drink water without fear of getting sick. We have more time for school, rest, and play. It has made our home more peaceful. My mother is also happier and not as tired all the time," he continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Savali and the rest of his 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 Savali a crucial tool for achieving his dreams: access to clean water. Together, we can excitedly expect that with this precious resource, his enthusiasm and courage will help him fulfill his dreams.

"I’m doing better now. I have more time to do my homework, and I’m not as tired in class. Before, I would come to school feeling sleepy or weak because I had spent the evening fetching water. Now, I can concentrate more and enjoy learning," Savali shared.

"I use that time to help with small chores at home, read my books, and sometimes just rest. On weekends, I get to play with my friends, which I couldn’t do before. I feel like a child again, not just someone always going to fetch water," he continued.

With better health, energy, and more time, Savali has big dreams for the future.

"I want to become a doctor when I grow up so I can help people in my village who fall sick, just like I used to. Now that we have clean water and I have more time to study, I believe I can achieve that dream one day," he exclaimed.

Savali.

Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Museesu Community B maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Museesu Community B – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.

Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Dug Well

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 300 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Feb 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 12/03/2025

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Alex Koech, Communications Officer

The 300 community members that call Museesu home struggle daily to access sufficient water to meet their needs. Finding and collecting enough water is exhausting, leaving them in pain and overwhelmed.

"During most evenings and weekends, I have to help my mother in fetching water, which is exacting and time-consuming. My leg muscles ache after each journey, and my mother massages them with warm water before I go to sleep. However, I have to walk to school the following day while carrying my 2-liter jerrycan of water, and the pain on my legs re-emerges," said 11-year-old Evalyn M. (seen below).

"I also often develop ringworms because I cannot conduct regular personal hygiene, which reduces my self-esteem and confidence in school and when playing with my friends. Going to the waterpoint by myself also scares me because there are several snakes in the area, and I could easily be bitten by one. I hope to get a nearby source of clean and sufficient water to prevent the aches and easily draw water for use at home," concluded Evalyn, shown collecting water below.

The community members rely on scoop holes in the local riverbed as their primary water source, but they present significant challenges. They are tiring to reach and filled with contaminated and salty water unfit for human consumption.

"The water point is located several (6) kilometers (3.7 miles) away, and fetching water and going back home leaves the residents exhausted and unable to focus fully on their daily activities such as farming. The scoop holes are open and unprotected. The water is contaminated and [salty]. You also can find animals excreting near them. Due to the high level of contamination, residents often contract water-related illnesses such as typhoid, amoeba, and dysentery," shared field officer Alex Koech.

"Despite the daily exhausting journey in search of water, I have to bear with the salty and contaminated water from the scoop holes, which causes stomach upsets and dysentery. I have to part with my little income when seeking treatment," said 49-year-old farmer Anastasia Kabwere, shown below collecting water.

But water-related illnesses are not the only challenge. Like Evalyn, Anastasia quite literally feels the pain of collecting water in her body every day.

"I have developed back aches because I have to carry water on my back each morning. Although the pain cools down after some rest, it reappears the following day. I have to bear with the pain because I have [to] get water for my family. A nearby water point will take my pain away, and I can even save up to purchase a donkey to carry more water," Anastasia continued.

Installing this water source will enable people like Anastasia and Evalyn, who live in Museesu, to focus on improving their daily lives instead of letting the water crisis steal their strength, health, and futures.

Helping to solve the water crisis in this community will take a multi-faceted system. It requires the collaboration of the protected dug well and a sand dam. They will work together to create a sustainable water source that will serve this community for years to come. 

The Proposed Solution, Determined Together...

At The Water Project, everyone has a part in conversations and solutions. We operate in transparency, believing it benefits everyone. We expect reliability from one another as well as our water solutions. Everyone involved makes this possible through hard work and dedication.

In a joint discovery process, community members determine their most advantageous water solution alongside our technical experts. Read more specifics about this solution on the What We're Building tab of this project page. Then, community members lend their support by collecting needed construction materials (sometimes for months ahead of time!), providing labor alongside our artisans, sheltering and feeding the builders, and supplying additional resources.

Water Access for Everyone

This water project is one piece in a large puzzle. In Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, we're working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources that guarantee public access now and in the future within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. One day, we hope to report that this has been achieved!

Training on Health, Hygiene & More

With the community's input, we've identified topics where training will increase positive health outcomes at personal, household, and community levels. We'll coordinate with them to find the best training date. Some examples of what we train communities on are:

  • Improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits
  • Safe water handling, storage & treatment
  • Disease prevention and proper handwashing
  • Income-generation
  • Community leadership, governance, & election of a water committee
  • Operation and maintenance of the water point

Project Updates


February, 2025: Museesu Community Well Complete!

The Museesu Community in Kenya now has a new water source thanks to your donation! We constructed a new protected dug well adjacent to a new sand dam on the riverbed. The sand dam will raise the water table and naturally filter water, while the well will provide a safer method of drawing drinking water for the community.

It could take up to three years of rain for the sand dam to reach maximum capacity because sometimes it only rains once a year in this region! As the sand dam matures and stores more sand, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will fill with water.

"I can carry clean drinking water to school, and since my parents are members of the group, they will also be selling the water, and the funds can be used to pay for my school fees," said 15-year-old Alex.

Alex.

"It will help my parents because they will now be fetching water within a few minutes. They will be drawing water easily, unlike before when they had to walk to the distant Iguini River, where one would spend up to three hours. I will also be joining my parents in growing crops like kale, tomatoes, onions, pepper, and more. Our cattle will have a nearby source of clean water, and I will also be drinking this water," he continued.

Protected dug well Construction

Construction for this well was a success!

We delivered the experts, materials, and tools, but the community helped get an extraordinary amount of work done, too. They collected local materials to supplement the project, including sand, stones, and water. When all the materials were ready, it was time to dig in!

First, we excavated a hole seven feet in diameter down to the recommended depth of 25 feet. The well lining was constructed using brick and mortar with perforations to allow water to seep through. Now that the well is finished, sand builds up around its walls, which will filter the water stored behind the dam.

Once the well walls and lining were complete, we laid a precast concrete slab on top and joined it to the wall using mortar. The concrete dried for two weeks before installation.

Next, the mechanics arrived to install the well pump as community members watched, learning how to manage simple maintenance tasks. We installed the pump level with the top of the sand dam. As the dam matures, sand will build up to the top of the wall. Until then, people will use concrete steps to get water. After installing the pump, we gave the well another few days to dry.

We worked with the Self-Help Group for this project. The members and their families contributed tremendous amounts of materials and physical labor.

New Knowledge

Our trainer conferred with the field staff about their previous household visits and interviews with community members to determine which topics the community could improve upon.

"The skill of soapmaking has taught us that we can make money easily, but only if we have interest and seriousness in the activity. It will help us generate money and meet family needs," said Annastaciah Mwikali, 51.

Annastaciah.

"This training will be of very great importance in our lives and will bring us change. I have learned a lot in the 3 days. For instance, water treatment, sanitation infrastructures, food hygiene, and having a squat hole cover, among other things and practices, are very vital in maintaining a healthy life," she continued.

We trained the group on various skills, including bookkeeping, financial management, project management, group dynamics, and governance. We also conducted hygiene and sanitation training to teach skills like soap- and detergent-making and improve behaviors such as handwashing.

We also touched on health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene behaviors, the spread and prevention of disease, and sanitation improvements. Finally, we covered natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

"This is an enthusiastic group that is keen on improving their lives through water availability. Most of the group members will now be able to conduct farming and proper hygiene practices," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




January, 2025: Exciting Progress in Museesu Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Evalyn and the entire Museesu Community. Construction has begun on the well project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in the Museesu Community!




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Contributors

82 individual donor(s)