The things that bring us the greatest joy in life are sometimes the things that others would hardly notice. Most of us wake in the morning, brush our teeth, take showers, or drink water without a second thought. One can turn on a tap and voilà, clean water pours out! We are able to wash our hands, wash our clothes, or even cook without thought. Water has always been so easily available to us that we take it for granted. For so many people in these rural villages, water is not so easy to come by. Children may walk long distances to fetch a bucket.
Families may rise up early to reach a small stream or a broken hand pump before it dries up or is too crowded. For many years, clean water was not something they could count on. They hoped for it. They prayed for it. But it was often not there. That's where the work in establishing the mechanised boreholes becomes so very important—the work Hive Ghana is doing here is more than just wonderful pipes and water. The boreholes are life changing gifts to the communities we serve.
When we built the first borehole, we saw the way the children danced and laughed. To many people watching from the outside, it looked like a small thing. Just water. But to the people there, it was freedom. It was health. It was no longer having to choose between going to school or walking long distances for water. It was mothers who no longer had to worry about not being able to cook or clean before running out of water. It meant less sickness from not having dirty water, and it meant a better life.
The mechanised boreholes we have built are not just rewarding to use; they are rewarding to witness the impact they have had on the communities. In each community that Hive has supported, there is a similar story. A school with clean water for students. A mother that has more time with her children. A young girl that can go to class instead of spending hours fetching water from the local stream. Although we may not always share about these stories, they do exist. Every time someone turns on the tap at any of the communities we worked with, someone’s day is that bit better. It's in those small victories that we find joy.
We believe that real sustainable development starts with identifying and resolving basic needs. And water is one of the most basic needs we can provide in this world. Yet, the joy in delivering it generates no small amount of happiness, it is rather profound. It is painfully loud. It is substantial. As we reflect on our journey so far, we remind ourselves; never underestimate the power of something simple. What you or I may take for granted is possibly some else's greatest gift. The sound of the water hitting the plastic bottle may seem common to many, but to others, it is hope.
We are proud about the achievementmade so far, thanks to Hive. We look forward to doing more. Every borehole made is a win. And this win is filled with joy, hope, and life's giving.