In South Sudan, Athiang and fellow members of the savings group in her village used to collect water from a river an hour’s walk away from home. Through a World Vision project focused on improving local service delivery, a borehole was drilled in the village. Clean water is now within a 2-3-minute reach.
With water close at hand, the savings group members were able to set up a community vegetable garden and they have time to carefully tend it now they don’t have to trek to the river every day. The women grow rocket, okra and tomatoes which they sell at the market. The profits are shared equally among group members which they use to buy household items or pay for their children’s education.
By saving money and working together, these women have gained the strength to withstand setbacks and to keep moving forward for their families’ wellbeing.