Leonie, from fear to tranquility
“I was always worried. At school, students were required to bring water to use during the day. So I had to wake up my children very early, around 5:30 in the morning, to send them to the river to fetch water, both for school and for home. I was afraid that something could happen to them on the way, especially if there had been heavy rains, because the ground became very slippery and unsafe. I was afraid the children would get hurt or drown. At school, they were always tired after these long walks. Since we have drinking water in the village, I am more relaxed. My children no longer have to wake up early in the morning and they follow their lessons more attentively.”
Jeanine, a better organization
“I am grateful. Having clean water has allowed me to organize my daily chores better. Without water, to do the laundry I had to take my clothes to the spring, wash them and then go back home. It took a long time. All the household chores took much longer. Now, however, even cooking and washing dishes have become easier, I just have to go to the fountain, which is right next to my house. I can dedicate more hours to field activities and not be in a rush during the harvest season . We can never thank you enough. No one would have ever imagined that one day we would have access to clean water.”
Aline, the newfound self-confidence
“Access to drinking water is a solution to many problems, especially for us women. There is more care for personal hygiene and this makes me feel valued. I have suffered from back pain for some years, which prevented me from carrying large quantities of water on my shoulders. The water I managed to carry from the river to the house I used almost entirely for cooking. There wasn’t much left for hygiene. And it was a suffering that made me distance myself from others. I am happy to have clean water near my home now: it means I can take better care of my body and always wear clean clothes. I can meet other women without feeling ashamed.”
Aline, Jeanine and Leonie are among the many women in Nyarunazi whose lives have changed. Access to clean water for all of them and their communities continues to be a gateway to other forms of development.
