EN-ID Blog
Every morning, Kasemi (56) would let out a long sigh before lifting a bucket filled with water. Her aging hands still tried to be strong, slowly walking towards her neighbor’s house. For more than 12 years, she had been living this routine, fetching water from her landlord’s house because her own home did not have access to clean water.
“Every day is like this… it feels tiring, and also embarrassing, having to depend on other people,” she said softly. She often imagined how much easier her life would be if she had her own water source—being able to wash, cook, and even just take a shower without feeling indebted.
Kasemi and her husband, Sumari (65), have lived in Sooko Village, Wringanom Subdistrict, Gresik Regency, for over a decade. Their lives have been full of struggle. Sumari works as a construction laborer and farmhand with an uncertain income. Meanwhile, Kasemi takes care of the household amidst the existing limitations, including their biggest difficulty, which is clean water.
Every month, they must pay 40,000 Rupiah to use water from their neighbor’s house. However, that water source is not always reliable. Sometimes, the water pump breaks down and they have to look for water elsewhere. When the dry season arrives, water becomes even scarcer. “There’s no water, we have to use it sparingly,” Sumari lamented to Kasemi.
A life that was already difficult felt even heavier with this burden. Not only was it troublesome, but it was also worrying when there were urgent needs such as using the toilet or cooking.
Read also: A Drop of Water, A Million Hopes: Efforts to Build Clean Water Access for Hundreds of Residents
Hope arrived when Habitat for Humanity Indonesia built clean water access for more than 1,500 homes in Wringanom Subdistrict, including Kasemi’s house. Now, clean water flows directly into her home. There are no more back-and-forth trips with a bucket in hand, no more shame in having to ask others for water. “Now I can cook, shower, and wash without any hassle. I don’t have to be afraid of running out of water or having to be so frugal anymore,” said Kasemi with a relieved face.
This change is more than just getting water. It is a life change. Now, Kasemi can even water the plants in her yard without having to worry about being charged extra for water. “In the past, I had to count every drop of water I used. Now, the water is clean and plentiful, I’m not afraid of the bill swelling because it’s all free,” added Kasemi.
Access to clean water is not just a need, but a right that every individual should have. Now, Kasemi and her family can live more comfortably, without having to bear the heavy burden just to get something that should be easily obtained. A more decent life is finally what they feel, something they could only dream of before.
There are still many families like Kasemi who are struggling to gain access to clean water. You can help make this change happen by donating through Habitat for Humanity Indonesia. Visit www.habitatindonesia.org/donate and be part of the solution for a better life for those in need.
(kh/av)
