The little children aged 3 to 6 who attend Malembwani Nursery School in Kenya's often dry Mwingi region have been forced sometimes to drink from nearby ditches.

Why? Because the small school had no consistent source for water. Parents would take turns carrying water to the school each day. But when there were shortages, the thirsty children would wander in search of any water -- including in dirty ditches -- which often left them sick.

“We live in a society where children are not taken seriously unless they fall sick," says Felistus Mbute, the school's Head Teacher. 

When Lifewater Canada learned of the children's struggles, with help from our donors, we installed a catchment and storage system that harvests rain during Kenya's wet months so water is available during the dry months. The system includes a large 10,000-litre tank plus a hand-washing station to help the children and teachers maintain safe sanitation practices.

"This was a lovely surprise and a blessing," Felistus told us, while watching two parents from the village fill the tank with water from a seasonal river nearby. She predicted the tank will store enough water to meet the school's needs for an entire year.

"I am thankful!"