From Walking for Water to Growing for the Future

By Christabel Mundike, Communications Officer, Zambia

For many years, life was demanding for Patricia, 32, from Chiluba Mulinda Village in Kasama District. Every day was marked by long, exhausting walks in search of water for her family. The nearest water source was over five kilometres away and even after that journey, the water itself was unsafe to drink.

"We used to walk about five kilometres to fetch water from an unprotected source," Patricia says. "During the rainy season, the water would become contaminated, and this caused waterborne diseases that frequently made my children sick."

For Patricia, the burden was not only the distance but also the constant fear of watching her children fall ill from water they had no choice but to use. Like many women in rural communities, she bore the daily responsibility of securing water for drinking, cooking, washing, and cleaning.

Conditions grew harder when the community's main water source was vandalised. With no alternative available, families in Chiluba Mulinda Village turned to a nearby stream that was equally unsafe.

Through all of it, Patricia did not give up. A committed farmer, she kept growing tomatoes and vegetables for sale, using every bit of income to hold her household together.

"I have always found ways of providing for my family," she says.

That determination found a new direction when World Vision introduced two programs to the community, Farming God's Way and Saving for Transformation.

Through Farming God's Way, Patricia learned conservation farming methods, proper land preparation, and how to get more from her land even with limited resources. Through Saving for Transformation, she developed the habit of saving and planning ahead, skills that would reshape how she managed her household finances.

Her small garden did not stay small for long.

"I have now expanded my garden," Patricia says. "I am able to save the money I make, and I have learned how to manage my finances better than before."

In 2025, another significant change came to Chiluba Mulinda Village. World Vision provided access to clean, safe water for the community, and for Patricia, the difference was immediate.

"My children are now able to drink clean and safe water," she says. "I also use the water for washing, cleaning plates, and other household activities."

Beyond better health, clean water close to home gave Patricia something she had been without for years. Hours once spent on the road to distant, unsafe sources are now spent in her garden, building the business she has worked so hard to grow.

"Having water close to home has changed everything for me," she explains. "Water is now at our doorstep, which means I have more time to work on my garden and improve my farming."

Patricia's progress has not gone unnoticed. Neighbours have watched her garden flourish and found themselves inspired to follow her example. One of them is Justina, who credits Patricia with motivating her to start farming.

"I was motivated to go into gardening because I saw the good yields Patricia was getting," says Justina. "I am now doing well, too, and having water close to home changes everything. Thank you to World Vision for opening our minds to better farming practices and for providing clean and safe water."

The story of Chiluba Mulinda Village is about more than a borehole. It is about families growing healthier, women reclaiming their time, and households finding in farming a steady, dignified path forward.

With clean water at her doorstep and knowledge gained through World Vision's programs, Patricia is building a better future for her children and showing others in her community what becomes possible when the right support arrives.