In 2020, our local partner the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) planned to complete 206 new water projects serving an estimated 47,897 people. However, a conflict that started in Tigray in November of that year raised concerns about the safety of the REST team and the availability of building materials. In response, REST’s plans shifted to what would have the greatest possible impact: restoring water access to rural communities, with special attention to those villages with the highest number of displaced people. This short film tells the remarkable story of the people in those communities and the REST team — and how the generosity of people like you delivered light in a dark moment.

While traveling in the Central Region of Malawi, our team met Samuel, a student who greeted us with a poem he wrote to honor everyone who helped bring water to his village. Samuel’s beautiful words are a reminder that every water project, every life changed, and every child with a bright future exists because of people like you, supporters who generously give to fund clean water projects for communities. Thank you for making this possible.

In this short film from Senegal, our local partner in tandem with the excavation operator team digs trenches in a community to lay pipes that, once the water system is complete, will carry clean water throughout the community.

An excavation operator lays pipes in Senegal that, once the water system is complete, will carry clean water to projects within the community.

At a school in Senegal, a student reflected on what she’s learned through the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming that’s preparing students for the forthcoming water project. “Through the hygiene club, I’ve learned that I should always wash my hands after leaving the toilet, and [...] and even the water we drink should be kept clean,” she said.

Jui once felt ashamed at school. Without clean bathrooms, she managed her period in secret while classmates faced taunts and teasing. Many stayed home, risking their dreams. But access to clean water and bathrooms is helping break that cycle. Read the full story here.

Our team traveled to Tigray, Ethiopia, where people endured a devastating conflict from November 2020 to November 2022. We heard countless moving stories of courage and resilience, but there was one in particular that reminded us of donors like you.

A community celebrates the completion of a well with a hand pump in Uganda.

Ms. Kayang walks to a cistern in her community to collect water for her household. Through the Accelerating Climate-Resilient WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) Service Delivery project, Ms. Kayang and her community are set to receive a piped water system with clean and safe water.

In Laos, Mr. Touy is a project coordinator dedicated to improving access to clean water for local communities.