Families: 205
Water Committee: 4 men and 6 women

Residents of Kankwita describe the new well as their first safe source of water “since Adam and Eve.” For generations, families relied on a hand-dug pit in the riverbed. When the rains came, flooding made the water dangerous, and diarrhea and cholera were frequent concerns.

Getting medical care added another layer of hardship. Families travelled eight kilometers to Chimaliro Health Center about three times a month, but medicine was not always available. A single trip could cost around MK 30,000, and some households spent as much as MK 90,000 each month on transportation and medical needs. To afford treatment, residents sometimes had to take on piece work.

Before the well, families often had only two or three buckets of water a day. Now they can collect four, six or more, giving them enough water to bathe three times daily and take care of their households more comfortably. Having safe water nearby has made basic routines less demanding and reduced dependence on the riverbed pit.

The difference extends beyond the household. Women who once argued while waiting for water now have a shared source close to home, and residents say there is less conflict. Families have more time to work in their fields, and community members describe stronger marriages and greater peace at home.

Children are also able to begin their school day without the same delays. With water nearby, they can arrive clean and on time rather than spending their mornings waiting at the river.

After generations of searching for safe water, Kankwita finally has a source of its own. Families can spend less time collecting water and less of their limited resources managing water-related illness, while devoting more time to farming, raising their children and caring for one another. For a community that has waited so long, having reliable water close to home changes the shape of everyday life.