Kasangi Simon, a 12-year-old pupil at Nzeluni Primary School, Mwingi County, southeast Kenya, shares her experience coping with water shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what difference a school water tank would make.

What challenges do you and your family currently face due to the pandemic and lack of water?

"Schools have been closed since March, so I have been at home doing household chores with my mum, brothers and sisters. We do not have enough clean water there to regularly wash and clean because where we get water from is very far away."

What further difficulties do you expect to experience in coming months?

"The dry season will make it more difficult to get enough clean water for drinking, cleaning and handwashing."

How long do you currently spend having to fetch water?

“I have been going to fetch water with my mum from River Kalamba which is the water point for our village. We normally go with a donkey because our home is a bit far from the water point, it would take us more than one hour to get there, then another hour to come home.”

“Having regular access to clean water would help us to clean and wash our hands whenever we need, which would help prevent the spread of diseases. Our schools might also be able to open again as they would have water to keep the school and children clean."

Kasangi Simon, pupil at Nzeluni Primary School, southeast Kenya.

What is getting water from the river like?

“Water is fetched from a scoop hole by the river, and currently there are so many people. On average one can wait for 20 minutes to fill the containers but the situation is even more terrible during the months of drought.

As for the water itself, it sometimes looks clear from its appearance, but sometimes it can be dirty. Animals often leave the water dirty (because of the faeces they leave behind). This water has caused some of the people in my village to have stomach problems.”

How would nearby access to a school water tank and clean water help improve your lives and reduce the spread of disease?

“Having regular access to clean water would help us to clean and wash our hands whenever we need, which would help prevent the spread of diseases. Our schools might also be able to open again as they would have water to keep the school and children clean."

Please donate what you can today and protect children’s health and education with school water tanks and access to clean water