In 2016, the village of Mwedini Mazoto was a place of hardship, where safe drinking water was a daily struggle. People walked long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources—streams and shallow wells contaminated with bacteria and disease. Sickness was common, and cholera outbreaks threatened lives, especially those of children.

Esmmie Lenard, now 23 years old, recalls those difficult days vividly. “I was sick two or three times a month,” she says. “Waterborne sickness was part of life. But I remember when Water Wells for Africa (WWFA) came in 2016. Since the water came, there has been no cholera. I have not been sick from waterborne sickness.”

Their incredible journey was captured in Roadways to Change, a beautiful film created by a French documentary team. The film showcases the strength of the African people, their struggles, and the remarkable transformation that clean water has brought to their lives. It also highlights how the community came together to build the road that made the well installation possible—a testament to their resilience and determination.

For Joyce Belo, the transformation of Mwedini Mazoto was personal. She was there when WWFA arrived, and she played an active role in preparing for the well’s installation. “I helped build the road,” she remembers. “Before, I had diarrhea twice a month and suffered from cholera. Since then, I have not been sick. No one, not even a child, has been sick from bad water. Cholera is no more.”

Today, Mwedini Mazoto is a different place. The community thrives with clean, safe water at its center. Children attend school regularly, free from the burden of illness. Women no longer have to risk their health for water. Life expectancy and quality of life have improved in ways they once thought impossible . We (WWFA) knew these things were possible! When we revisited eight years later, we found that not a single child under eight years old had ever been sick from waterborne illness—a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of clean water.

The well in Mwedini Mazoto stands as a testament to the power of clean water and the lasting impact of WWFA’s mission. This is not just a story of survival—it is a story of transformation, resilience, and hope.