Sisilia's story, Tanzania
Sisilia is a 13-year-old girl living in remote Tanzania, who had to walk long distances to collect water every day. Thanks to Project Compassion, Sisilia’s school and village now have safe clean water close by and she can spend more time studying so she can fulfil her dreams of one day becoming a pilot.
Life was not easy for Sisilia growing up.
Her father passed away when she was one, leaving her mother to care for her and her four siblings all on her own.
Sisilia lives in a small, overcrowded house with only one bed, poor ventilation and no toilet. One of the main challenges she faced was access to clean and safe water.
Sisilia fetched water three times a day, walking nearly 30 mins each round trip to collect water from a dirty canal. The water was not treated and Sisilia and her family would often get stomach problems like diarrhea. She would also often be late for class because she had to fetch water for home.
“When I miss school, I feel bad. The time I use fetching water affects my studies since I'd fetch water instead of going to school,” Sisilia said.
I get very tired. Carrying heavy water containers every day after walking long distances is not easy. I was also getting piercing back pains.
Sisilia
Nearly 40% of people in Tanzania don’t have access to basic drinking water services
With the support of our partner in Tanzania, the Diocese of Mbulu Development Department (DMDD), Sisilia and her school joined the A+ Successor Project.
The project has helped improve access to clean water at Sisilia’s school by installing clean water taps at the school. These taps have been a gamechanger for the school community. Children can wash their hands, drink clean water and water the school garden to grow food that they can eat for lunch.
Through the project, Sisilia participated in a SWASH (School Water, Hygiene and Sanitation) Club where she learnt about the importance of handwashing at critical times, boiling unclean water before drinking and keeping the toilets clean.
The SWASH Clubs use a child-to-child approach to empower students to become advocates for change. Sisilia’s active involvement has turned her into a confident leader in her community, using her knowledge to promote hygiene, sanitation and rights awareness in her community. As part of the club, children take part in public demonstrations where they teach their parents and other adults how to maintain good hygiene through the use of songs, dance, games and interactive handwashing demonstrations.
In addition to providing water sources at her school, the A+ Successor project has helped establish a domestic water point in Sisilia’s village. Sisilia now needs to only walk two minutes to collect water, which has drastically cut down time needed on water collection.
Sisilia’s dream is to one day become a pilot and she hopes the time she saves collecting water can be used to focus on her studies.
"When I grow up, I would like to be a pilot. I'd like to fly to different countries and pass through the sky.”
Your donation can help
Provide clean water taps to schools
Support SWASH Clubs to promote hygiene and sanitation
Provide hygiene kits for children at school
Ways to get involved
Take on a 40-day walking challenge this Lent. Bring clean, safe water to people around the world.
Sign up as a school, and raise funds to help people who have to walk to collect water every day.
Be the host with the most this Lent. Raise funds to change the lives of people living in poverty.
