More Than Water: Borehole Transforms Aurora’s Health and Schooling

By António Massipa, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator

In the heart of Memba district, northern Mozambique, the life of 11-year-old Aurora has taken a remarkable turn. A bright and determined girl who dreams of becoming a teacher, Aurora used to start her days with a 30-minute walk to fetch water from a distant, unsafe river. The water was dirty, the path dangerous, and the long trip often made her late for school.

“I used to come to school very late, and the teacher would get angry, but I had no choice,” she recalls.

However, in 2024, everything changed for Aurora and her village when World Vision built a new borehole. This important development ended the long walks to collect water and provided a clean, safe water source just a minute from the girl’s home. The change had an immediate impact and quickly improved daily life for everyone in the community.

One of the biggest changes was in Aurora’s schooling. She no longer had to spend 30 minutes getting water and could arrive at school on time. With a smile, she says, “I’m punctual now, and the teacher doesn’t get angry anymore.” Her happy face shows how much this change means to her.

Benefits beyond saving time

The benefits of the borehole go beyond saving time. With clean water now available, the community has started growing crops like bananas, maize, and millet. This has made a big difference in food security and helped families become more resilient in tough times. The borehole now serves about 400 people, improving not only health and hygiene, but also giving people dignity and new opportunities.

Aurora’s story is just one of many. Through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programme in Memba, World Vision has built 37 boreholes and three water supply systems, reaching more than 14,700 people with safe, life-changing water.