Every morning before sunrise, Elodie, a 32-year-old farmer and mother to four adopted children, would begin her day by leaving her family behind to search for water. Living in a rural village in the Central African Republic meant her nearest water source was a natural spring five kilometers away—a long trek through dense bushes. With three of her four kids in school and the youngest not yet old enough to attend, the responsibility fell on her to provide water for her family.
One morning, as she made her early walk along the narrow path to the spring, a hyena appeared ahead of her on the path. Fearing for her life, she turned and ran, but the trail was slippery from a recent rain, and in the rush to escape, she lost her footing, fell into a ditch, and broke her left leg.
The medical care from the injury wiped out her savings. Money meant for buying seeds and daily meals instead went toward her recovery. Once her leg healed, she continued making the long and dangerous walk to the natural spring, having no other choice given the ongoing need for water.
When Water for Good extended a piped water system into her community, that daily struggle finally lifted. Instead of spending half her morning walking back and forth to the spring, Elodie now spends her energy on her farm, growing cassava, onions, and cabbage to feed her household and sell at the local market.
“Before, collecting water took away my strength, my time, and almost my life,” Elodie said. “Now the water is right here. Cooking is easy because water is close by, and I have more time to work on my farm and care for my children. Safe water has changed everything for us.”
Bringing clean water steps from home transforms the entire rhythm of that home. For Elodie, it means more cash earned at the market, safety on her daily commute, and the certainty that her kids grow up in a healthy house.
