{"id":247006,"date":"2025-10-08T10:44:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/?p=247006"},"modified":"2025-10-08T10:44:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:44:33","slug":"many-generations-will-benefit-why-repairs-like-this-one-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/2025\/10\/08\/many-generations-will-benefit-why-repairs-like-this-one-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"“Many Generations Will Benefit”: Why Repairs Like This One Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When our team visited Madegwa Spring in Malimali Community, Kenya, they found a scene that would fill any water-fetcher\u2019s heart with dread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The stairs in Malimali Community leading to Matekwa Spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heavy rains had eroded the soil beneath the protected spring\u2019s stairs until, one day, the stairs collapsed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe staircase that helps community members safely access the spring was severely damaged, creating a serious safety concern,\u201d described our Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Resolution, and Learning, Allison Gregory. \u201cThree of the individual stairs had collapsed, and we observed significant structural damage that likely put the entire staircase at risk of further failure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our construction artisan looks at the broken stairs before beginning repair work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did this impact the community?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The breakage didn\u2019t make fetching water impossible, but it did make the chore much harder than it had been before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt frustrated because it made accessing the water point difficult,\u201d said 54-year-old community mother Everlyne Osinde. \u201cI spent more time at the spring than I would have liked, taking away valuable hours that could have been used for other socioeconomic activities, such as farming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Community member Everlyne Osinde.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLife was not easy when the stairs were broken,\u201d Everlyne continued. \u201cAccessing the water point became a challenge, especially during the rain when the area was slippery. It was difficult to send children to the spring, and it was unsafe for two or more people to draw water simultaneously, as this could cause further damage to the already broken stairs. The hazard of slipping and falling made it dangerous for anyone coming to collect water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamage to the stairs did not halt access to the spring water, but it made accessing water more difficult and hazardous, thereby impeding access,\u201d Allison said. \u201cA water user carrying multiple heavy water containers would likely have struggled to navigate these broken stairs. It\u2019s possible that some people were even deterred from using this spring due to safety concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as our team saw those broken stairs, they worked to schedule a repair as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we fix it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, we asked the community members to collect locally available construction materials like large stones, gravel, sand, and bricks. We brought waterproof cement, labor, and expertise, but including the community in repairs like this helps to cultivate a sense of ownership and community among the people served by the spring. When they are all brought together with a common goal, members own their project and work together towards its sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took about five days to schedule the repair and gather everything we needed. Then, our construction artisan arrived to clear out the old stairs. Community members first helped to lift out the chunks of old cementwork, and then schoolchildren helped bring the supplies from the local houses to the construction site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A community member helps clear the construction site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Local children bring bricks to the spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The artisan then laid out bricks to form the stairs and covered them in new waterproof cement. All that remained was to let them dry and cure for a few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The construction artisan lays out bricks to rebuild the stairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cementing the new stairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Drying and curing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did community members react to their newly restored water point?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow that the water point is functioning again, I feel incredibly happy and grateful for the restoration of the protected spring,\u201d Everlyne said. \u201cI can now access water with minimal challenges as the spring is easily accessible.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everlyne (right) and her neighbor fetch water from the newly restored protected spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our team members explained to Everlyne that it\u2019s supporters like you who help repair the spring through our Water Promise. We promise to keep safe water flowing in every community we serve. The thought warmed Everlyne\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is humbling and a blessing to know that my community is supported by generous individuals from faraway places who engage in charitable work to improve our livelihoods,\u201d Everlyne said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everlyne gives her ducks water from the protected spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Everlyne hangs laundered clothes to dry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Everlyne washes dishes with safe water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI derive great satisfaction from knowing that our implementation partner has a system in place for monitoring the functionality of the projects they implement. Without the repairs, the stairs could have deteriorated further, leading to non-functionality and rendering the protected spring useless for our community. All the benefits of the protected spring would have been lost.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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