2022 Annual Report
Margaretia at the Sonder well with another member of the community .
In the dry season , life was even more difficult . When the water levels were low , Margaretia said she would sleep at the creekbed waiting for the water to come . Otherwise , she would have to compete with other women to find water , sometimes leading to words being exchanged , and even fights . Additionally , the water she was collecting was causing her to suffer from waterborne illnesses like diarrhea . The situation was terrible , and now she had six more bodies needing water . She needed to spend time with her grandkids , not constantly be out searching for water .
“ I was feeling pain all over my body ,” Margaretia recalled .
We are happy to say that is the past . In August 2022 , The Sonder Project drilled a well in Chimphako and Margaretia ’ s life transformed .
“ The body pain is gone . I have more strength now ,” said Margaretia .
She happily lists off all the benefits the new Sonder well has unwrapped : her stomach doesn ’ t get sick nearly as often , she has more energy to work on her farm , the community women now celebrate together when collecting water , she has been able to start a small garden she can maintain year-round , she can sleep more , and she has more time to focus on her grandkids .
“ I used to really focus on collecting the water we needed for each day . I can focus on my family now .” she said . “ We are living in peace now ,” she added .
Women and girls , like Margaretia , stand to benefit the most each time The Sonder Project drills a well , because they are culturally tasked with the job of collecting water . Margaretia ’ s story is just one of the thousands of women whose life has been changed as a result of a Sonder Project well .
Margaretia tends her newly planted garden made possible by the water accessibility from the Sonder well .
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