The Ripple Effect of Clean Water

Last spring, I had the incredible opportunity to travel with Water to Thrive to visit well sites in Ethiopia and Uganda. The experience was both personally and professionally transformative, but nothing compared to seeing how clean water changes lives in the villages we serve.

 

One unforgettable day in Ethiopia, we visited a village high in the hills, where the community welcomed us with overwhelming joy. We danced, laughed, and sang together before visiting their original water source. What I saw broke my heart—the water was muddy, with cows drinking from the same pool. This was the drinking water for 60 households before Water to Thrive stepped in. It moved me to tears. No one should have to drink such water. Yet, Inari, a village mother of six, had no other choice until our intervention.

Inhari proudly posed with the large bundle of feed she had prepared for her cattle.

Since gaining access to clean water, Inari’s life has completely changed. Instead of hauling and boiling dirty water, she now tends to her cows, producing richer milk and butter, which she sells at a premium in the market. With more time, she has expanded her garden and banana cultivation, feeding her family and earning extra income. Clean water has created a ripple effect, improving not only her health but also her economic stability.

I often think of access to clean water as the first rung on the ladder of life. Without that crucial first step, it’s impossible to climb any higher.

Moments like these remind me of the incredible impact we can have on people’s lives through simple acts of compassion and generosity.

-Ann Flemings