Ms. Josefina Navarro is a 32-year-old wife and mother of five children.
During the summer, Josefina hauls water for drinking and other domestic uses from a well located more than a mile away. During the winter, she only has access to water from creeks; this water is not fit for human consumption. She says that she feels happy because she will soon have a tap at her house. Through Water.org training workshops she has learned about household hygiene practices, such as how to properly chlorinate and boil water. This means her children will be healthier and not suffer from diarrhea.
Josefina has observed a change in her community since the start of the water project. Families in the community have received training around the water project, and on the importance of sanitation and good hygiene practices. This has facilitated progress made toward the implementation of the community’s new water project. Through the families’ combined efforts, they have put in a total of 104 days of “sweat equity.” Josefina feels confident that the effort and sacrifice will bring about many benefits, including a change in her and her family’s attitude, and within the larger community.
Said Josefina, “Ten years ago, the families in this community dreamt about having a water project. Today that dream has come true thanks to the people who have motivated us to keep working so we can finally have water directly in our homes.”
This story is part of our Giving Thanks: Story of the Day series that will run through the end of 2009. There are countless reasons to celebrate clean water and we want to bring you some of the first-hand accounts of its life-saving, life-changing impact for those we serve around the globe. We invite you to join us and give thanks, give water, give life.
