From hardship to happiness
Along the Java Sea in the Northeastern region of Indonesia, Tukinem’s family makes their home. Here, Tukinem tends to her rice and corn fields while selling fresh vegetables to neighbors. Living simply with her husband, after their children married and moved out, Tukinem remains busy farming and teaching at the local school where her children once attended.
Tukinem often walked 1 to 2 kilometers a day for water
For Tukinem, water was once a daily struggle. Without access to it at home, she borrowed water from her neighbors, when they would allow her to fill her buckets from their water connections. While her neighbors’ generosity helped some, to ensure her family had enough water each day, Tukinem had no choice but to buy costly 5,000-liter tanks for 300,000 rupiah (about $18 USD) every couple of weeks. She recalled, "I never ran out completely, but it was hard…hauling buckets and depending on others.”
Between a water vendor and a neighbor living half a kilometer from her home, Tukinem purchased and collected water from these two sources
Tukinem gained hope for solving her family’s water crisis when representatives from Water.org’s local microfinance program partner, PNM Mekaar, shared with her community the opportunity to take out small loans for water and sanitation. After learning how the loans work and what was possible for solving her water issues, Tukinem borrowed 1 million rupiah (about $60 USD) and combined this with about $30 of her own savings to purchase a water tank, pipes, and a faucet. When considering the small loan Tukinem explained, "I thought carefully before borrowing asking, ‘can I afford it?’ But it is going well and we are making our payments."
"I feel happy and peaceful...Everything we do needs water; this loan helps so much.”
Tukinem looks forward to mornings when she makes her journey to the school where she teaches kindergarten
The transformation from lacking safe water at home to now having it has brought Tukinem peace, "Thank God, I feel happy and peaceful. Mornings are now just cooking, bathing, then working at the school. Everything we do needs water; this loan helps so much.”
Before getting access to safe water at home, Tukinem's mornings were challenging as she worked to secure water for her family and get to the school on time to teach
Enjoying the health and benefits of safe water, Tukinem makes sure to share with her students and their parents the importance of drinking and using safe water in their homes, too. "As a teacher, I see the struggles," she explained, "Kids come to class without bathing because there's no water at home. I tell parents, 'If you lack water, borrow from neighbors to keep your children clean and avoid diseases.'" Since sharing her concerns and advice with her students’ families, Tukinem has noticed the children are bathing more regularly.
Bathing, cooking, laundry...Tukinem's family is thankful for having access to
From hardship to happiness, Tukinem’s story proves what we’ve witnessed repeatedly throughout the communities where we work. One woman’s decision to change her family’s lives with safe water can inspire an entire community—bringing the health, hope and joy that flow from lasting access to safe water at home, to more families in need.
