A New Dawn as Nokukhanya's Family Gets Reliable Supply of Safe Water

As the sun set behind the hills of Maseyisini, 17-year-old Nokukhanya would hurry home from school, aware that darkness was approaching. Her daily routine left her drained—a burden no young girl should have to bear. After school ended at 5:00pm, she would drop her bag at home, change clothes, grab empty buckets, and head to the river to fetch water.

“By the time I left for the river at 6 pm, it was already getting dark,” Nokukhanya recalled. “There was often a long line, and I’d have to wait for my turn.”

The task of collecting water was both physically demanding and time-consuming. By the time she returned home at 7:30 pm, she was exhausted. Yet her day wasn’t over. She had to eat quickly and then tackle her schoolwork, often struggling to stay awake while studying.

“I was so tired, but I had no choice,” she said. “I needed to do my homework. But I couldn’t focus because I would be so exhausted.”

Her grandmother, Annah Kunene, watched with worry as Nokukhanya’s education suffered. “It was very difficult for my grandchildren,” Annah said. “It was evident that the long trips to fetch water were wearing them down. They had no time to rest or study properly.”

Everything changed when World Vision brought clean water to the community. For the first time, Nokukhanya’s family had a tap right at their home. The burden of walking long distances for water was lifted, and the impact was life-changing.

“Now, I can focus on my studies,” Nokukhanya said with a bright smile. “Now, I can even get water at 7pm because the tap is at my doorstep. I come home from school, rest a bit, and then do my homework without feeling completely drained.”

The benefits went beyond academics. With a reliable water supply, the family could now grow a variety of vegetables.

“Before, we could only grow spinach because we couldn’t carry enough water to support other crops,” Nokukhanya explained. “I had to go to the river three times just to get enough to water the spinach for three days. Now, we grow cabbages, onions, beetroot, and lettuce. Our meals are healthier, and we don’t have to buy vegetables as often.”

Her grandmother smiled proudly as she spoke about the transformation. “Even their schoolwork has improved because they have more time to focus. Their grandfather would have been so happy to see this if he were still here,” she said with a tinge of wishful regret in her voice.

For Nokukhanya, water is more than a basic need—it’s freedom from exhaustion, freedom to learn, and freedom to dream of a better future. With her newfound time and energy, she is determined to excel in her studies and chase her ambitions.