A Bright Future: Safe, Clean Water for Jackline’s Family
In 2019, Jackline and Michael moved to Matyazo, a mountainous community located in the East African country of Tanzania. Newly married, the couple was excited to start their life together.
To support their new family, Jackline and Michael opened a restaurant in town. However, one thing stood in the way of business success: Matyazo lacked access to safe, clean water.
It was very difficult to get safe water for domestic use and for the restaurant. We used to fetch water from the rivers, but those are so far away, and down a very steep slope. So, we had to pay people to collect water for the restaurant.
Walking a long distance for water multiple times a day was not sustainable for anyone living in Matyazo. It took time away from those who needed to care for children or make money to sustain their families. Paying people to collect water was also not sustainable, especially not for a young couple with a new business.
Safe, Clean Water in Matyazo: Building the Project
Water Mission saw and assessed the need for safe water in Matyazo. Thanks to dedicated donors, we were able to install a safe water project, which was commissioned in early 2020. Powered by solar energy, water is sourced from a spring, chlorinated, and then piped to tap stands and homes throughout the community.
More than 10,000 people now have access to safe, clean water in Matyazo. This had an immediate impact on Jackline and her family.
When Water Mission installed a safe water system in Matyazo, Jackline’s life changed.
Jackline noticed three tangible results of having safe water close to her restaurant:
“First, the water is now available whenever we need it,” she says. “Second, we are using very little time to collect water. Third, it was very costly before to get water, and now it is cheap. This means we can save money. We have used that money to start farming—to grow a vegetable garden and buy piglets.”
Verified Impact: Keeping Safe Water Flowing
A year after the project was completed, we transitioned operation and maintenance to Jackline’s community. Water Mission staff still return to the community each quarter for follow-up visits, during which we verify that the water is safe for consumption by testing for things like turbidity and chlorine residuals. We also check in on system operators and ensure they are keeping up with operations and ongoing maintenance as needed.
Today, five years after we completed the project in Matyazo, safe water still flows. Matyazo’s safe water project is part of Water Mission’s verified impact initiative. Its quality and continued impact have been verified through rigorous, third-party auditing.
The safe water project in Matyazo, Tanzania, is part of our verified impact initiative and has undergone third-party auditing.
Verifying our impact in this way guarantees that we hold ourselves accountable for the projects we build. It also helps us ensure that safe water continues flowing for people like Jackline.
Jackline understands the importance of sustainability, and she trusts the system’s reliability.
“I am dreaming of how I can expand my business,” she says. “I am planning in the future to also have a women’s clothing shop at the nearby marketplace. My plans are [based on the water] that exists now.”
If the tap is sustainable, the future will be bright.
A Sustainable Project: Water for Future Generations
Not long after Water Mission’s project was installed, Jackline gave birth to her firstborn, a daughter named Given. Now parents, Jackline and Michael have even more reason to place their hope in the longevity of Matyazo’s safe water project.
We are making preparations to educate our daughter and prepare her for the future, educationally and economically.
Jackline and Michael now have hope that their baby daughter, Given, will grow up with access to safe water.
For parents like Jackline and Michael, a sustainable project means their children will grow up relying on safe water. They won’t have to spend time walking for water, and they won’t get sick from drinking contaminated river water, causing them to miss school.
What is a Thirst Quencher?
When you give, you help provide safe water for families like Jackline’s around the world—not just temporarily but for many years to come.
Monthly givers are invaluable to every project’s sustainability. We refer to our monthly givers as Thirst Quenchers, a title that sets them apart for their commitment to providing people with safe water and the opportunity to experience God’s love.
Will you prayerfully consider partnering with us each month to change the lives of people like Jackline, Michael, and baby Given?
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