Where there's water
This is a story of two great friends: Merifa, 15, on the left, and Rachel, 12, on the right.
They share their school days with one another, and they share the same dream of becoming a doctor.
Rachel and Merifa live in Chinganji in Malawi, southern Africa. It’s an area made up of 15 villages – and it’s a place of two halves. One half has clean water, and the other half doesn’t.
Merifa’s village got clean water in 2021 when WaterAid worked with her community to install a 30,000-litre water tank.
When we didn't have water nearby, I would just bathe once a day when I was on my period. But now, I bathe at least two or three times per day.
We no longer have to wake up early to go draw water before school, and then come back to draw more water. So it was a very good feeling for us.
£20.50 could help pay for a community tap to bring life-changing clean water to more children like Merifa.
As part of the same project, Merifa’s school got clean water. She remembers the day it arrived vividly:
“All I remember is the excitement that there was at school. People were crowding around the taps and opening and closing them because they weren't used to seeing water like that – we were just too excited.
“As a result, our grades have improved. We have seen a big difference now that we have tap water near us, because we’re spending most of our time studying instead of going to draw water. So we have time to actually be in class.”
Merifa's friend Chisomo, 13, drinking water from a tap at her school in Chinganji, Malawi. June 2024.
Merifa's friend Chisomo, 13, drinking water from a tap at her school in Chinganji, Malawi. June 2024.
Merifa playing with her friends at school in Chinganji, Malawi. June 2024.
Merifa playing with her friends at school in Chinganji, Malawi. June 2024.
Three years on from getting clean water, not only does Merifa have more time to study and be at school with her friends; she can also go to choir practice three times a week.
Plus, she runs a small business with her sister, Fanny, making samosas, to contribute to their family’s income.
Where there's water, there's Merifa's ear to ear smile and her time well spent.
Without water, there’s a ripple of problems
In contrast, Rachel’s home life is dramatically different.
She only lives a 30-minute walk away from Merifa. Yet there’s no clean water source nearby, and that brings a ripple of problems to her daily life.
Like all 12-year-olds, Rachel should be spending her time taking up hobbies, and chasing her dreams.
But instead, she spends hours, day in, day out, collecting water with her mum.
The water they collect is dirty and puts the whole family in danger.
I get water from a shallow well near my house, but it’s dirty. I don’t feel safe drinking it.
Despite all the effort they put into collecting the water, there isn’t even enough for the whole household.
Sometimes Rachel gets thirsty, and she can’t wash herself and her clothes as much as she’d like to.
If we had taps nearby, I am going to be very happy because I will now be able to wash all the clothes. I am going to be able to bath and have enough drinking water. I would take a bath, three times a day.
How you can help
With your help, we can extend the pipe system we built in 2021 to reach 1,830 people across five villages, and we’ll build a new solar-powered water system to reach the remaining four villages.
£38.10 could help provide a child like Rachel with clean water for life. Will you help us turn on the taps for Rachel, her family and the people of Chinganji?
In Malawi, families spend on average 55 minutes per day collecting water.
That’s an hour - every single day - when children like Rachel could be studying, or playing with her friends, making precious childhood memories.
Where there’s water, there’s Rachel realising her potential
This winter, we have a chance to support Rachel and children like her in Chinganji to get clean water on tap.
Where there’s water, there’s more time for Rachel to pursue her dream of acing her exams and becoming a doctor.
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