Didacienne, a widow since the Rwandan genocide nearly 25 years ago, raised her five children alone with very limited means.
In her rural village, the lack of access to water made daily life extremely difficult. Each day she spent two hours walking down steep hillsides to an unprotected spring and carrying a heavy jerry can back home, often falling ill from waterborne diseases. Tragically, she lost one of her children.
Everything changed when her village gained access to clean water. Didacienne regained her health and the time she once spent collecting water. She was also able to take on work as a local water seller, creating a reliable source of income for her family.
With her earnings, Didacienne can now buy food and clothes, invest in her children’s education, and – most importantly – build a home of her own.
As she says, “Anything you do in this life revolves around water. When we received water, we were joyful. I no longer get sick and I save two hours each day!”