"I feel strong and happy, and I can play with my friends without getting tired or sick."

April, 2026

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Joan. Since then, she and the Kilela Community of 350 residents have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"I like that the water is clean and close to our home!" declared Joan.

Before the Well Installation

Like many girls in Kenya, age name 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.

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 Joan, it meant exhaustion and no time to simply be a child.

A child collects water from the previous water source.

"Last year, we didn’t have enough water at home. My grandmother and I would go very far to fetch water, and sometimes we would come back tired and late. The water we fetched was dirty, and we sometimes got sick with stomach pain after drinking it," shared 5-year-old Joan.

"It was very hard. We had to wake up very early before the sun came out and walk for many hours to the river. The place was crowded, and we had to wait in line for a long time to get a little water. Sometimes there was no water left, and we had to go home without any," she continued.

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 Joan’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 can help my grandmother fetch water easily now because it doesn’t take long. The water looks clear and fresh, and even our goats drink from here. I don’t get stomach aches anymore because we drink clean water. I feel strong and happy, and I can play with my friends without getting tired or sick," celebrated Joan.

"The best thing is that we can drink, wash, and cook with clean water. My grandmother says it also helps us stay healthy and clean. I like helping her wash dishes and water the trees she planted," she continued.

The Future is Looking Bright!

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

"I am doing well in school because I don’t get late or tired anymore. I can go to school early, stay clean, and concentrate in class since we don’t spend long hours fetching water," shared Joan.

"Now I have more time to play with my friends, help my grandmother at home, and draw pictures. I also have time to study and rest before going to school," she said.

"When I grow up, I want to be a teacher so I can help other children learn. Having water near home makes me happy because it helps me stay healthy and go to school every day."

Joan at the well with another community member.

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 Kilela Community 2B 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 Kilela Community 2B – 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: 350 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 02/11/2026

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Alex Koech, Communications Officer

In this primarily arid rural area, where rain is erratic at best, the 350 community members of Kilela struggle to access water daily. Their primary water source is a scoop hole that does not provide sufficient or safe water.

Field Officer Alex Koech said, "The people (mostly women and children) wake up at dawn to search for water from the seasonal Ndalani river. They walk for about 3 hours to the scoop hole at Ndalani River. They have to wake up that early; otherwise, the water at the scoop hole runs out, and they have to wait till it collects more water. The lack of water in the area has led to long queues at the water point, which at times leads to quarrels between the community members."

People in this community spend so much time collecting water that they sacrifice the time and energy they need to perform essential tasks, which leads to increased irritability at the overcrowded water source.

55-year-old farmer Christina Kyumbulo, seen below carrying water, shared, "Being a single mother with four children, I have to wake up early to fetch water for use at home. The water point is about four kilometers from my home; thus, I have to walk there in the morning when it is still dark, which exposes me to sex predators in the area. Fetching water is a dangerous affair [for me] because I no longer stay with my husband."

Long journeys alone can put people in harm's way, and once they get there, the scoop hole gets so deep that trying to find water can be dangerous.

"During the peak drought periods, the scoop hole is dug so deep and requires three people to fetch water. The scoop hole sometimes collapses, like during the last drought season when three women got injured after the scoop hole collapsed when they were inside. When the water point [is] set up, fetching water will be much easier and safer because it will be located close to my home," concluded Christina.

Children also make sacrifices. Crucial learning time evaporates as they contribute to collecting water for their families.

11-year-old James M., shown scooping water below, shared his experience. "My home is about two kilometers from here. When I arrive home, I am often sent to go fetch water at the scoop hole, which is exacting because of the long journey. The search for water is time-consuming and exhausting; thus, I cannot fully concentrate on my studies or get time to interact with friends."

"I have also developed diarrhea on several occasions, like last month when I had to skip school and stay at home while my parents sought treatment. The frequent absenteeism has negatively impacted my academic performance. The set up of a water point close to my home will ensure I have clean water to drink, and I will no longer spend several hours searching for water," he continued.

Not only do women and children have to travel extensive distances, risking their safety, but their health is also at risk, as James noted because the water is unsafe to consume due to contamination.

"The scoop hole is open to contamination from both the community members and their livestock. This exposes the residents to infections such as typhoid, amoeba, dysentery, diarrhea, and more," Alex continued.

"The implementation of the proposed sand dam project will hold enough water that can sustain the community throughout the dry season. Since the project will be set up near the community, the residents will no longer have to walk several kilometers searching for water. They will also acquire enough clean water to improve hygiene [and] sanitation in the area, thus eradicating water-related infections, such as typhoid, dysentery, amoeba, and more," concluded Alex.

The protected dug well installation will also give Christina time to tend to her essential tasks like caring for her children and James time to focus on school. Instead of using all their energy to collect water, they will regain valuable energy for a chance at a brighter future.

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.

Note: Our proposed water point can only serve 300 people per day. We hope to continue working with this community to identify other water solutions that will ensure all of the people in this community have access to safe and reliable drinking water.

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


March, 2025: Kilela Community Protected Dug Well Complete!

The Kilela 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.

Sixteen-year-old Bernard is filled with hope for his future potential.

Bernard.

"Before, I had to walk long distances to fetch water, which was very tiring and left me with little time to do my homework or play with my friends. Now, with the water nearby, I can spend more time studying and playing, and I will not feel as tired anymore. The water is also clean, so I will not get sick as often as I used to. This means I can go to school every day and not miss any lessons. Reliable water will also help my family because we can use it to grow vegetables and take care of our animals. This makes our lives much better and gives us hope for a brighter future."

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

The well is complete!

Community Education

The Kilela Self-Help Group has been busy! This is the second protected dug well they have completed recently, which is a challenging achievement, as construction is laborious. Due to their efficiency, training for both projects was completed in one fell swoop!

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

We have covered health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene habits, and disease prevention. Finally, we've covered natural resource management as well as the operation and maintenance of the well.

With accessible, safe water and hygiene training, Bernard's potential is unmatched. "With clean water available, I will not have to spend time fetching water before or after school, so I can arrive on time and stay focused in class. I will not feel as tired or thirsty during the day, which makes it easier to concentrate on my lessons. Clean water also means fewer sicknesses like stomach upsets or diarrhea, so I will not miss school. The construction of this waterpoint near my home makes my dream of being an engineer in [the] future achievable," Bernard concluded.

The effort that went into completing this project impressed even our field officer!

"The Kilela Community demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm and resilience throughout their construction project, embodying a spirit of collaboration and determination. Their participation in the material-gathering process was hands-on and proactive, as members collectively sourced locally available materials such as sand, stones, and water. They organized themselves into work groups, ensuring tasks were equitably distributed and completed efficiently," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




November, 2024: Kilela Community Dug Well Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Kilela Community costs people time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!




Project Photos