Access to clean water and proper sanitation felt like a pipe dream. The school headmaster, Domingos Meque, explained, “Challenging health issues were constant. Children trekked 3-4 kilometers (nearly 2.5 miles) multiple times a day to fetch water that was anything but safe. Although we had a few hand-dug boreholes, they were little more than stagnant pools, teeming with insects, frogs, and even snakes.”
“Diseases like cholera, diarrhea, stomach aches, and malaria were all too common among us,” lamented community leader Benedito Barrozo. The lack of sanitation compounded the problem. He continued, “With no access to education or proper latrines, people were forced to relieve themselves in the bushes or mangroves along the coast where we fished. It was extremely difficult.”
In just six months, we’ve seen a major drop in waterborne diseases.
“Today is a new day, and everything is changing,” Domingos declared enthusiastically. “We are immensely grateful to the VOX community for providing us with a new well and constructing a latrine for the children.” He continued, “In just six months, we’ve seen a major drop in waterborne diseases. There’s a huge difference in our lives now, and we can see our health improving. I can finally say we are living a new chapter.”
The children are healthier, more excited about school, and even arrive early. Thanks to organized school clean-up efforts, they now enjoy a clean environment, play soccer between classes, and participate in a new farming program led by the school.
“We now have a safe place where our children don’t have to leave school to go to the bush,” Benedito shared. Both he and Domingos agreed that these changes mark a new beginning for Njalane–one of health, learning, and hope for the future.
