Before the well, the community relied on open springs and shallow, uncovered wells without pumps. For bathing, people had to travel to the river. Although the city had tap water infrastructure, this area remained disconnected.
“We walked an hour just to bathe.”
Imagine waking up every morning and planning your day around how and when you’ll find water. That was the reality here. Families used open springs and shallow, unprotected wells. There were no pumps. Bathing meant trekking to the river.
Even though parts of the city had tap water infrastructure, this area was completely disconnected.
Water wasn’t just scarce — it was expensive.
Those who couldn’t walk relied on water vendors. Each 20-liter container cost 10 birr. Add 20 birr for transportation. A family needed 5–7 containers a day.
That’s over 200 birr — every single day — just for water. That’s unsustainable. And it hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
Girls missed school. Women suffered silently.
Women and girls were disproportionately affected. Girls were pulled out of school to help fetch water. Women bore the physical burden — hauling heavy containers under the sun.
One elder shared how even basic hygiene was a struggle: “We didn’t have enough water to wash, even when someone was sick. The lack of clean, accessible water wasn’t just inconvenient — it was dangerous.
We needed more than help. We needed hope.
When we arrived with our partners from Good Gifts, we didn’t come with just a project — we came with questions.
We asked: Where should we build?
The answer came from community elders and the Woreda Water Office. Land was donated by a local resident. Others offered time, food, and hands. Despite setbacks — cement washed away by rain, the challenge of mixing concrete with limited water — the community kept showing up. Because this wasn’t a donation. It was ownership.
The Change Arrives — and It’s Just the Beginning
Sabeel was completed in April 2025. It’s 15 meters deep and built with a stone-cemented wall and manual pump. It provides 3.65 million liters of clean water — serving over 150 people.
Now, women collect water close to home. Girls go to school. Elderly people have safe access. Families no longer choose between food and water.
And it’s just the start.
Why We’re Telling These Stories
Because coffee can only taste so good. But when it becomes a tool for dignity, access, and hope — that’s when it becomes purpose.
At WayKup, we’ll continue sharing these voices. Not as an afterthought, but as the heart of what we do.