Sharon’s Story: “Because the water is good”

Samaritan’s Purse is helping to create healthy homes and schools in Kenya and in over 25 other countries by providing water filters for families and students who don’t have access to clean drinking water.

God put a dream in Sharon’s heart to become a surgeon. He gave her a desire to treat the injured and to care for the sick. But her dream was threatened because of the water she drank at her school in Kenya. It was full of dangerous bacteria and parasites.

Always Sick

Sharon and many of her classmates suffered from terrible stomach pains, weakness, and diarrhea—and they often missed class. Every year around the world, children like Sharon miss 43 million school days because of preventable waterborne illnesses. At school, with no proper places to wash her hands, Sharon was also vulnerable to the spread of other diseases.

It wasn’t just Sharon’s dream of studying medicine that was in danger, it was her life, too. One person—often a child—dies every 37.5 seconds from water-related diseases.

A Dream Renewed through Safe Water

All that changed when a Samaritan’s Purse team came to Sharon’s school. Because of gifts like yours, they installed a school-sized BioSand Water Filter—able to produce safe water for every student and teacher—along with latrines and handwashing stations. They also taught the students how to stay healthy through proper hygiene practices.

That gift renewed Sharon’s dream. “When I grow up and become a surgeon, I will teach people to know how to use clean water,” she said with great hope. “It has been long since we went to the hospital…because the water is good.”

More Vital than Ever

In the era of COVID-19, water projects, especially those in schools, haven’t slowed down. They are more vital than ever before. Families and students worldwide are trying to stay healthy, stop disease, and continue their education. Safe water, handwashing resources, and proper sanitation are crucial in their fight.

As boys and girls prepare to return to class around the world, many more need these vital resources to keep them safe from disease and healthy enough to continue their education.

“I’m praying for those who do not have safe water,” Sharon said. God can use your prayers and gifts to help protect them and reach them in His Name.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3, ESV)