Marta's water connection

"Important, comfortable, clean, better..." Marta spoke of her water tap and toilet with pride and confidence. Even more confident was her smile as she shared what a toilet and safe water mean to her. 

Marta lives in Santa Teresita, a community just outside Sullana, Peru. She has lived in the same home her whole life. Her parents (seen in the painting) owned a clothing business. Following their footsteps, Marta raised her own four children in this same house with earnings she made from the sale of clothing.

Marta always hoped to improve the home her parents left her by adding the essentials their family lacked; a household water connection and a toilet. Through Water.org's local partners, Marta took out a small loan to fund the construction of a bathroom and kitchen tap for her family.

Then in 2016, her water and sewer connections collapsed due to settlement. Knowing how life-changing the new water tap and toilet were for her and her family, Marta didn’t hesitate to take another small loan to repair the pipes. 

With pipes fixed and water flowing, Marta has been empowered with sustainable solutions that make life as she describes it, "better." No longer focused on where she will relieve herself or get water, Marta’s days are focused on her clothing business, her grandkids, and keeping a comfortable home.  

Give water credit for making life "better" for Marta and her family.