Ester Bizwick, aged 55, from Wilson Village in the Machinga District of Malawi knows how important clean water is for poor families worldwide.  Here she describes how her life has improved since gaining access to a clean water supply supported by WaterAid:

"I used to draw water from the Lisanjala River. I used to go four times a day with all the children. There were lots of problems from the water. Children and parents would get sick from the diarrhea and we’d frequently go to the hospital which is 17 kilometers away. It was taking too long to get to the hospital.

"It was difficult before the [new] water [point], we were unable to grow vegetables because the water was not close. We didn’t have adequate food. We would grow cassava in the fields to sell for clothes, food and soap. But we didn’t have enough food to eat.

"We have had our [water] connection recently and we have been growing vegetables to eat instead of buying them.

"Since the water came our lives have changed. We are able to concentrate on our families and the children are not getting sick any more so we are saving time and being more productive.

"The time is being used to farm, look after children, and bathe."

Photo: WaterAid / Layton Thompson