Elvira is a farmer in rural Timor-Leste. Her family has never had access to clean water or a latrine. Instead she and her son Aniceto spend hours each day collecting dirty water from a stream half an hour away.
Aniceto would miss out on school, “I send my children to school because I want them to have a good future,” says Elvira. “But because the water was far away from our house, my children got punished by the teacher for being late.”
With help from ADRA, Elvira and her husband now have a new latrine. They no longer have to use the bush, giving Elvira and her family their dignity back. “I don’t feel ashamed anymore,” Elvira says.
A water pump was also installed within twenty metres of Elvira’s house, saving the family time, restoring their health and ensuring they have a source of income.
“I am happy because we don’t need to go far to fetch water. The water is near our house,” says Elvira. “We don’t get sick when we drink the water because the water is clean.”
Read her full story here.