Families: 60 + one other village
Water Committee: 5 men and 5 women

Chinawa has been home to its residents since 1984, and until recently, clean water was nowhere to be found. The villagers relied on the Mua River or a distant water well, but the well was so congested that most avoided it. They drank water shared with goats and other animals, leaving at 4 a.m. and returning by 8 a.m. with just one bucket. Diarrhea was common, and families went to the clinic four times a month, walking two kilometers each way.

The community committee recalls that many adults could not get an education themselves, so they are especially joyful that their children can now attend school on time.

Farming and home businesses were nearly impossible before the well. Women can now grow and sell tomatoes, mustard, bananas, and more. Where families once faced tension, there is now harmony. Daily water collection has shifted from a full-time burden to a source of opportunity.

Previously, villagers could only fetch two buckets a day—one in the morning and another in the late afternoon. Now, each household can access up to twelve buckets, enabling home gardens and improving nutrition. Bathing, which was often skipped to conserve water for cooking or farming, can now happen three to four times a day.

Organizations like Kusamala previously struggled to implement home gardens because there wasn’t enough water. Today, villagers can meet these requirements while still maintaining hygiene.

School attendance has improved dramatically. Children come to class clean, on time, and motivated. Many now dream of becoming teachers or following the paths of other role models in the community.

Cedrich, in his seventies or eighties, reflects, “As an older man, it was hard to fetch water. Now, I can focus on my clothing business, and I see the children learning without interruption.”

For the people of Chinawa, the water well isn’t just a source of clean water—it’s reshaped daily life, giving families time to farm, children time to study, and elders time to work and contribute. Life flows differently here now, and the rhythm of the village has changed for the better.