This is Sabina. She’s a farmer, a single mom, and the primary care-giver to her elderly mother. She approaches her days with bold wisdom, keen resourcefulness and a dedication to hard work.

These days used to start early for Sabina. Without any other option, every morning required a long walk to collect water needed for breakfast, bathing, and cleaning - usually from a distant, unsafe natural source. There were only a few occasions on which Sabina purchased water from a vendor. She valued the time saved by just purchasing water, but for her it was unwise and financially unfeasible to do this regularly. Thus, pond water was the family’s primary option.

Sabina’s home and small farm are located in a rural village outside Nairobi, Kenya. Two long rainy seasons benefit Sabina’s crops however it wasn’t until recently that she could take advantage of the abundant precipitation for her and her family’s consumption.

Water.org made possible in Kenya what, to a resourceful woman like Sabina, seemed an ideal solution. Through our smart solution called WaterCredit, Sabina financed a rain catchment system. During and after the rains, Sabina can store enough water for her home and crops. This frees her from time spent collecting water. And, her well-fed plants earn her money, some of which she used to repay her loan.

Sabina approaches her days with the same boldness as before, but now she has more say over her mornings. What she does with that time is her choice, and this is why we give water credit for empowering women like Sabina.