When Water Came Closer, Opportunity Grew

For most of us, turning on a tap is something we barely think about. But for Mana Merita and her family in Timor-Leste, accessing water was once a daily challenge.

Merita is 28 years old, a mother of two, and lives with a disability. Together with her husband, she grows food and raises animals to help provide for their family.

For years, their household relied on a spring around one kilometre from home for the water they needed each day.

It was water for drinking and cooking. Water for washing and bathing. And water for the vegetable garden that helped feed their family.

During the rainy season, collecting it became even more difficult. The path to the spring could become muddy and slippery, and flooding could leave the water dirty and unsafe.

Despite the challenges, Merita continued caring for her family and garden, carrying heavy containers of water home to keep her crops growing.

Then water came closer to home

Through an ADRA-supported water system, clean water became available close to Merita’s home.

It was one change — but its impact began to reach into many different parts of her life.

Today, Merita can more easily access water for her family’s everyday needs and use it to care for her vegetable garden.

She grows crops including mustard, spinach, cassava and corn, providing food for her family. When there is produce available to sell, the income can also help cover everyday household necessities.

For Merita, having water nearby has brought a new sense of comfort and security.

“I am very lucky because ADRA brought water to my home. Now, I feel comfortable and safe. I can easily get water for drinking, cooking, washing, bathing and even watering my vegetable garden.”

But what grew from this opportunity didn’t stop at Merita’s home.

The impact reaches further

The water system also reaches a local school, where 175 students now benefit from access to water.

There, water supports drinking, handwashing and sanitation, as well as the preparation of school meals.

And the community has played an important role too. Local people helped with work such as digging trenches and laying pipes, and a local group is involved in managing and maintaining the water system for the future.

What began with access to water has created opportunities that reach across a family, a garden, a school and a community.

Water helped food grow.
Food created opportunities for income.
And access to water continues to support health, education and everyday life.

Give to Grow

Mana Merita’s story is one example of what can become possible when people have access to the resources and opportunities they need to build on their own strengths.

Across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, ADRA works alongside communities facing different challenges, helping create opportunities for people to thrive.

This October, through the ADRA Appeal 2026, we’re aiming to raise $88,000 to help ADRA continue this work where it’s needed most.

Your generosity can become part of what grows next.

Give to Grow.