Lilian’s Second Chance: From Child Bride to Student

At just eight years old, Lilian’s childhood was stolen from her. Instead of playing with friends or learning her ABCs, she was forced into marriage to a man thirty years older than her. What should have been years of laughter and learning became days filled with fear, responsibility, and abuse.

“I didn’t know what marriage meant. I only knew that my life was not mine anymore,” Lilian recalls. For years, she endured physical abuse from her husband. By the time she turned ten, she had already faced more pain than most children can imagine.

But Lilian is also a survivor. One night, after a particularly violent beating, she made a brave choice: she ran. With no clear plan and nowhere safe to go, she sought refuge among relatives who helped her escape the cycle of abuse. For the first time, Lilian could breathe freely.

Still, there was something missing. Lilian had never stepped into a classroom. She could not read or write, and she feared her dreams of a different future would always remain out of reach.

That changed when she joined our Accelerated Learning Program. Designed specifically for overage girls like her — those who missed the chance to start school at the right age because of early marriage, poverty, or cultural barriers — the program offers a second chance at education.

“I was shy and afraid when I joined,” Lilian admits. “But the teachers welcomed me. For the first time, I held a book in my hands and someone told me, You can learn too.”

Through intensive literacy sessions, mentorship, and a supportive community of peers, Lilian began to blossom. Each word she learned was a step away from her painful past and a step toward a brighter future.

“Now I can write my name, I can read simple stories, and I dream of becoming a nurse,” she says proudly. “I want to help other girls who suffer like I did.”

Lilian’s story is a reminder that education is not just about books — it is about dignity, freedom, and hope.

Usawa Space has helped 700+ overage girls like Lilian re-enter or begin schooling, breaking cycles of child marriage and giving them the tools to rebuild their lives.

 Lilian’s journey is proof: when you give a girl a second chance, she can rewrite her future.

Mary’s Story: From Hours at the River to Income at Home

The Long Walk for Water

For years, Mary’s life in Samburu County revolved around one exhausting routine: fetching water. Every morning, she walked for nearly four hours under the scorching sun to reach the nearest river. Carrying heavy jerrycans on her back, she made the same journey again in the evening.

“It wasn’t just tiring,” Mary recalls. “Sometimes I left my children alone at home, and they missed school because they had to wait for me.”

The long treks left little time for anything else — not her beadwork, not her children’s studies, not even rest.

A Well Within Reach

When Usawa Space partnered with Mary’s community to construct a sump well and install a solar-powered pump, everything changed. Clean, safe water was suddenly just a few minutes’ walk away.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw water flowing so close to home,” she says with a smile. “Now I fetch water in ten minutes instead of four hours.”

The new well has done more than quench thirst — it has freed up Mary’s most precious resource: time.

Beads That Pay School Fees

With those regained hours, Mary turned to her beadwork, a traditional craft passed down through generations of Samburu women. Today, she creates beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments — pieces that not only preserve her culture but also earn her income.

“Before, I only made a few pieces because I was always walking for water,” Mary explains. “Now I can sit, bead, and sell more jewelry. With the money, I pay for my children’s school fees and buy food for our home.”

Dignity, Health, and Hope

Beyond income, the well has improved health in the village. Children no longer suffer frequent stomach illnesses from contaminated river water, and women no longer face the risks of walking long distances alone.

For Mary, the well represents more than convenience — it symbolizes dignity and possibility.

“Water changed my life,” she says. “Now, instead of worrying about survival, I think about how to grow my business and how far my children will go in school.”

A Ripple Effect of Change

Mary’s story reflects the experience of 5,000+ people who have gained improved access to clean water through Usawa Space’s WASH programs.  Every well, borehole, and sand dam we build not only brings safe water closer but also restores time, safety, and opportunity to entire communities.

Water is more than a basic need — it’s the foundation of thriving lives and thriving futures.