Inhari's Changed Life...
Last year, on our vision trip in February, we visited several villages in Ethiopia just before they received their wells. We wanted to document the progression of impact that clean water has on the lives of so many people.
Our trip this year to Ethiopia was filled with many stories of transformation. One that stood out was Inhari’s incredible journey: from collecting water in a stagnant pond shared with animals and worrying daily about the survival of her six young children to creating a flourishing cash crop that increased her household income and the health of her family.
When we met Inhari last year, it was difficult to get her to smile and open up about her life without access to clean water. She seemed doubtful when we told her there was a well coming soon to her village. I remember her saying that seeing us gave her a glimmer of hope that she would one day know what life with clean water access is like.
Inhari previously collected water from a stagnant pond that was shared with the local animals. When we interviewed her last year, she looked very serious and concerned, never cracking a smile. Her eyes were filled with despair, and she was clearly in desperate need of change. She stood beside her six children as she spoke of the daily hardships she faced and the constant burden of worry she carried each day that one of her young children would get sick from drinking the dirty water.
This year, Inhari was all smiles and barely recognizable, speaking enthusiastically about her changed life!
She explained how, with her increased health and time, she can now tend to a flourishing garden of cabbage, false banana, and even coffee! Additionally, she now has more time to prepare feed for her cattle, which increases milk production!
With the extra milk and increased time on her hands, she is able to make butter, a high-value item in her nearby market. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in her household income. She also spoke of her improved mental state, as she is now free from the constant worry that one of her children will get a waterborne illness.
It was quite clear that clean water access has provided Inhari with many blessings and opportunities for a flourishing life. When we asked what she would say to the donors of Water to Thrive, who made this change possible, she replied, "Please know that we are now family. You have truly changed our lives, and we are now one thanks to your kind, giving hearts."
-Jamie Morris, Marketing/ Communications Director, Water To Thrive
Water To Thrive
Water To Thrive
0:01- Meet Justina, a young, hardworking girl living in rural Uganda.
0:09- Every day, before and after school, she collects water.
0:19- This involves crossing a muddy path lurking with dangerous parasites.
0:29- These microscopic parasites can be absorbed through her skin.
0:33- Like many young girls here, she and her mother are the primary water collectors for their families.
0:43- This daunting task causes girls to be late for school and then punished for their tardiness.
0:51- This is why girls often drop out of school altogether.
0:55- Justina is desperate for change.
1:00- Carrying these 50 lb jerry cans never gets easy.
1:11- Living without clean water access causes immense suffering.
1:19- But no one suffers more than the young girls and women. This will become a lifelong burden for them.
1:25- Justina patiently waits to be freed from this endless suffering.
1:27- Clean water access is a critical stepping stone toward community transformation.
1:37- Our process ensures lives will be forever changed for many generations to come.
1:44- Thanks to generous donors, Justina and her family will soon have access to safe, clean water.
1:52- Your support makes a difference. Please donate now to help more young girls like Justina.
1:56- Water to Thrive Build Wells Change Lives, Connect with us at WWW. WATERTOTHRIVE.ORG, facebook.com/watertothrive, Instagrahm: @watertothrive, email: [email protected]
