DR Congo: Clean Water Transforms Eugénie’s Life

By Didier Nagifi, Communications Officer

In Gemena, located in the South Ubangi province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eugénie, a 29-year-old mother of two, once faced a daily struggle to access water. Every day, she walked long distances on foot to fetch water, often dirty and hazardous to her family’s health.
“I had to walk kilometers to find water. It wasn’t clean, but we had no other choice,” she recalls. Unfortunately, this contaminated water had serious consequences for her family’s health. 

“My children were often sick, suffering from diarrhea and stomach pains because of the dirty water,” she says sadly.

This task also took up a significant amount of time, interfering with her other daily responsibilities. Eugénie explains: 

“I had to wake up very early and sometimes came home late, which left me little time for other activities. Sometimes, my children went to school without me having had the time to prepare food for them. It was really hard.”

But a radical change has recently transformed her life. Thanks to the installation of a water kiosk by World Vision in her neighborhood, Eugénie and her family have found a sense of peace.

“The water is now just a few meters from my home. I can fetch it in minutes, and it’s clean,” she says with relief. 

This improvement has helped her children regain their health:
“My children are healthier and no longer get sick like before.”

The time saved has had a positive ripple effect on her daily life. Now, Eugénie can focus on other essential tasks. 

“I can cook earlier, clean the house, and even have time to sell some products at the market,” she says with satisfaction.

 Before, her entire day revolved around finding water. Today, she can better organize her life and live with more peace of mind.

The impact of the water kiosk extends far beyond her family. The entire neighborhood benefits. Residents breathe easier, children go to school in better health, and waterborne diseases have significantly decreased. This change has brought renewed hope to an entire community.

With a beaming smile, Eugénie concludes: 

“Clean water is life. Thanks to World Vision and the sponsors, we now have a solution that allows us to live better, protect our children, and have hope for the future.”