In Kenya families often walk miles to access water every day. Even at 5 years old, Cheru understood and lived this struggle, walking nearly two hours and then digging for water in a dry riverbed, competing with thirsty goats and camels. Without clean water Cheru and her family were often too sick to go school and at risk of contracting diseases such as typhoid and diarrhoea. However, life changed for Cheru, when World Vision helped her community build a pipeline to bring clean water down from a mountain spring. Cheru now accesses that same cool water as it flows from the tap near her home. “This water tastes good,” she says. With the water kiosk only a few steps away, Cheru’s mother Monica fills jerrycans full of clean water to provide for her children, allowing them to consistently attend Kesot Primary School. 

With clean water also available at the three primary schools dotted along the pipeline, many more students like Cheru are attending school – and classes are overflowing. New classrooms are being built to accommodate the influx in attendance.  When class begins, Cheru is quick to raise her hand to answer questions, “I love school,” she says.

Sadgul, 25 a mother of four, lives in a small village in Afghanistan. Due to cultural practices women have traditionally held a weak role in Afghan society, unable to generate income and leaving them vulnerable. However, for Sadgul that dynamic changed when World Vision started a beekeeping project in the region to help boost the economy. With the hope of supporting her family, Sadgul joined the program, “I told myself, let join this strange program, maybe I can help my children and husband and have income…” she said.

Sadgul received training on proper bee care, honey production and two beekeeping boxes to begin with. “I started with two boxes and currently I have 20 boxes with between 15,000 and 17,000 bees in each.” Through the beekeeping project, Sadgul produces income that supports her family, especially her children and can buy schoolbooks and anything they need. “Now, I have belief in myself … there is no need to hide myself from society anymore,” says Sadgul, gratefully. 

Emma Nsemani, 43, runs a successful business in her hometown in Zambia thanks to participation in a World Vision savings group. Living with her seven children, Emma a single mother had spent many years unwell and was unable to farm and feed her family. “I was always crying because I did not know who would look after my children and provide for them,” she says.  

World Vision invited Emma to join a community savings group, where she was initially reluctant because she had no money. Encouraged by World Vision, Emma joined having to save just 5 Kwacha (AU$0.56) per month, it was not long until Emma was feeling empowered. Now Emma says, “The saving’s group renewed hope and opportunity and my health improved. My family now live a better life.”