Reflections in Water: Story 1, Esther Jomo:

One of the best parts of my trip to Ghana was being hosted for a day and night in the first rural community our NUMA piped water system was installed in 5 years ago. I went there to learn about our clients experience with the piped water solution since its beginnings and most importantly, hear their desires for how to make it better in the future. I hope you enjoy the first of these stories here:

Esther Jomo

My first home visit, after the community assemblyman, was that of Ester Jomo. Not one “to retire”, she has a small curio shop behind her home where she gets to mingle and be social as she sells loaves of bread, peanuts, tomato paste, rice and other small food products.  Esther is a self described “elderly woman”, living by herself. She has a unique sweetness and depth that wonderful Grandmother’s all have and she described her “status”—one that comes from living on as a widow in your hometown when your adult children live elsewhere. That twinge of sadness in deep expressions of love. Esther’s four children live in the city and last year they paid the connection fee for her the NUMA NOW household water connection as a gift for Christmas. She used to have to carry the water from a stream down in a ravine and her children, worried about both the diseases in that water and work of hauling such enormous weight, are thrilled to care for her this way. She shared her anxiety about tripping under the weight of that 40 lbs of water, over uneven and steep paths, resulting in an injury; knowing that self care would be difficult with family far away. This sweet woman now has a prepaid water meter and tap at her home that her she can “top up” with credit via a text message with ease. I asked if she still used creek water for any other uses and she responded that she uses NUMA water for cooking, cleaning, bathing and everything at home. I couldn’t avoid smiling at this healthy, vibrant, beautiful and happy entrepreneur who’s eyes met mine with smiles in the pauses for translation. Esther’s children were arriving soon for the holidays and she was glowingly happy to have piped water as a reminder of their affection when they’re away as well as a way of caring for them while they’re home with her to visit—that last part got me...