World Water Day 2021 | Making Progress in Mongoyo

We live in the era of convenience with luxuries like delivered meals and live-streamed shows at our fingertips. Yet globally, 2.2 billion people still do not have access to safe drinking water (UN Water). Without access to clean water, people – mostly women and children – spend hours trekking to find water and waiting in lines just to haul a few gallons back to their families day after day. Their jobs are put on hold. Children get behind in school. Waterborne illness plagues their bodies. It’s hard enough to meet basic needs, much less hope for more.

Every person should have the chance to lead a productive, fulfilling life. Lack of water should not be an issue. But it is.

Celebrating World Water Day with 4africa

Since 1993, the UN has declared March 22 World Water Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about the global water crisis. Working together, organizations like 4africa and compassionate world changers like you have made safe, accessible water a reality for countless communities like the ones we serve in East Africa. But there’s still work to be done.

When a community gets access to a clean, reliable water source, everything changes. Families receive abundantly more than the convenience of filling their cups – they receive the chance for a vibrant life, restored health, and more career opportunities. When they aren’t fighting for their lives, people can pursue their aspirations.

Instead of hitting you with daunting global water facts, this World Water Day we want to celebrate what happens when people receive access to clean, safe water. One well at a time, communities are transformed into thriving, vibrant hubs of hope. Even better, each well we drill provides the opportunity to share the hope we have through the gospel and introduce them to the source of living water – Jesus Christ.

The Mongoyo Community Transformation

But it just wasn’t doing as well as it should. Some students were a few years behind, others only attended periodically, and the teachers weren’t able to teach full days.

Henry, one of the schoolteachers, illuminated the issue,

“We had to fetch water from the borehole in the trading center; however, a school system gets seriously inconvenienced when pupils and teachers compete with the entire community for water, yet they have classes and school projects to attend. Fetching from a crowded water source eats into the time of both the teachers and students. Instead of preparing for lessons, I was late to school as I waited for my daily water haul. Plus, with the constant crowds, quarrels and fights broke out.”

Henry desperately wanted more for his students and his community, but they had to make do without access to water.

When surveying areas to drill wells, our team looks for communities with health centers, schools, and busy hubs. Communities need reliable water at these highly-frequented central locations. We had to get water going at this school – quickly!

With help from community members like Henry, the school well was functioning in no time.

“Now, I’m punctual for school programs. Meals at school and home are prepared on time, and waterborne sicknesses have reduced considerably; consequently, medical bills for waterborne illnesses are a thing of the past. We can lead healthy lives because we wash clothes more often and eat clean food.”

As a community leader, Henry plans to take full advantage of the opportunities clean water provides.

“My dream is to become a successful teacher and to run a successful business in my community. The school well is helping me achieve my goals. I use the water for my vegetable garden to supplement my diet and increase my income. My purpose is to serve people to the best of my abilities by being a role model to the community and pupils that I teach. Plus, I am choir chairman, so I want to use gospel music to reach the unreached. I try to influence people positively to be environmentally conscious, and I do voluntary work such as cleaning the health center and borehole. I’m always looking for a way to contribute to the well-being of my community. My prayer is always to seek wisdom from God. I want to be courageous in my endeavor.”

Then & Now: Witnessing the Mongoyo Transformation

Fast-forward four years, and the school well is going strong. Thanks to a clean water source, the school was one of the few that could reopen and offer boarding options to students after COVID-19 closures.

We caught up with Fred, one of the students there who aspires to become an engineer:

“Having water near the school makes our lives worth living. We can count on regular healthy meals. We know that clean water means a healthy life, and we can stay at school without any problems. One of the major requirements for

opening schools in Uganda during the pandemic was having a reliable water source. We were lucky that our school had a borehole, so reopening after closure due to COVID-19 was not a problem. From the bottom of my heart, I will always be grateful to 4africa for drilling for us a borehole. Because of the borehole, my classmates and I could return to school.”

Join the Cause on World Water Day

This World Water Day, let’s do our part in helping more people like Henry and Fred who long to live well and do well. Join us today to bring hope for tomorrow. Follow us on Instagram to see how you can make a difference!