How easy access to clean Water Transformed Nyandwi’s Life

For years, the daily water-fetching routine was an exhausting burden for Nyandwi and his family. The long walk, sometimes up to an hour and a half, left his children too tired to attend school or even take care of their personal hygiene. In their struggle for water, they often resorted to using the damp grass in the early mornings to wipe their faces and bodies before rushing off to class.

“It was heartbreaking,” Nyandwi says, his eyes clouded with memories of those tough years. “We had no choice but to send our children out early in the morning to fetch water. They would come back exhausted, sometimes too tired to go to school. They lacked the energy to focus on their studies, and many times, they would go to school late, missing out on important lessons. It was a heavy toll on their health, their education, and their spirits.”

Living in Huye District, 60-year-old Nyandwi, his wife Esperance, and their four children, two of whom are girls, were caught in a cycle of hardship. Every day began before dawn, when Nyandwi’s children would set off on their journey to fetch water. The walk was long and tiring, and even when they returned, it was never guaranteed that they had enough to meet their needs.

Then, something incredible happened. World Vision, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, brought hope to the village. The installation of a water pump in the community, just a short walk from Nyandwi’s home, transformed their lives in ways they had only dreamed of.

The change was immediate and profound. No longer did Nyandwi’s children have to wake up before the sun and walk long distances to fetch water. They now had access to clean, reliable water right at their doorstep. This simple, yet life-changing development meant that Nyandwi’s children could take proper baths, attend school on time, and focus on their studies without the burden of exhaustion hanging over them.

“The difference is like night and day,” Nyandwi says, his voice filled with gratitude. “My children are no longer late for school. They now have time to study and relax, something they never had before. They no longer arrived at school exhausted or distracted when we got water within our home compound.”

The impact of clean water also extended beyond hygiene and education. With enough water at home, Nyandwi was able to renovate his house and start a kitchen garden, which improved the family’s nutrition. The water has provided his family with the resources to thrive, and Nyandwi now sees his children’s future in a whole new light.

“My two daughters used to come home so tired from fetching water, and they would struggle to focus on their studies because of the chores waiting for them. But after having our own water tap through World Vision and government support, they could take a proper bath, do their schoolwork, and go to school looking clean and smart. It was a huge change for them, and I was so proud of their progress,” Nyandwi shares.

For Nyandwi, the arrival of clean water improved their livelihoods as a family. It gave his children the chance to be children again, to study, play, and grow without the weight of exhaustion holding them back. It gave his family dignity, health, and hope for the future.

Thanks to World Vision and the Government of Rwanda’s partnership, providing access to clean water brought about impact from one family, one community, and countless others across the country.

“Water may seem like a small thing, but for us, it has been life-changing,” Nyandwi says, a smile finally spreading across his face.