A Year Later: Water Enables Income-Generation!

Thirty-four-year-old farmer Alphonse Anunda recalled what life was like in the Mwikholo Community before his community's spring was protected last year.

"The initial state of our spring was so pathetic that the only way we could get water was to step in the mud [and then] with the same dirty legs step in the drinking water for there was no discharge pipe to help get water. During [the] rainy season, it was terrible for I have a grass-thatched house, so I cannot collect water from the roof. To have an income, I do small-scale farming and [do] casual labor to supplement it. Right now [I] am not having any struggle [to] balance my work well," said Alphonse.

Collecting water is now simpler and faster for Alphonse and the other community members in Mwikholo.

"With the protection of the water point, it is easy for me and anyone else, including children, to get water with ease. This has impacted my life because I have enough time to work on my farm very early in the morning [and] then do my casual work, enabling me to start an income-generating activity for my wife. She is now selling onions and tomatoes in the neighborhood, which makes her busy and also [to] have money," said Alphonse.

Having ready access to water from the spring has made a difference for Alphonse, allowing him time to start income-generating projects for his family and creating a more promising future.

"The greatest achievement I have had so far is having money to enable my wife [to] have an income. After finishing the farm work together, she goes to her business as I get to my casual work; thus, we live in peace and [are] enabled to school our children and get the basic needs," concluded Alphonse.