Ever since his father died three years ago, 10-year-old Akmal* needed to make a long trek to a well with his donkey. The road to the well is treacherous with steep ravines etched into the sides of the mountains where he and his family live. If Akmal didn’t haul water, his mother and siblings would have no water at all.
Often, the well was crowded when Akmal arrived, and he had to wait his turn in line to fill his containers. Once he finally lowered his rope and began raising buckets of water hand over hand from the depths below, he would remind himself not to rush. Each time he came, Akmal remembered the boy who’d lost his footing and fallen into the well while drawing water, drowning before he could be rescued. After carefully filling his 11 containers, Akmal trekked back home.
With help from contacts and supporters’ funds, rainwater collection systems are given to families and communities in Yemen, including Akmal’s village. By providing fresh water, these resources give children who dropped out of school to carry water the opportunity to attend school again.
To help provide clean water for Yemenis, please click Donate to give a gift.
