Stories > Clean water, healthier communities.

“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham…” – Genesis 26:18

In many parts of the world, something as simple as clean water can change everything.

For communities in remote areas of Nigeria, access to safe water is not guaranteed. Families often rely on rivers, open wells, or broken water sources – places where the risk of contamination is high and waterborne diseases can easily spread.

For children and adults alike, this reality shapes daily life.

Hours can be spent walking long distances just to collect water that is unsafe to drink. Illness becomes common. And for people living with disabilities, the challenge of accessing water is even greater.

But this is beginning to change.

Through cbm’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, communities are gaining access to clean, reliable water sources – along with the knowledge and tools to stay healthy.

At the heart of this work are boreholes – carefully installed or restored wells that provide fresh, clean water close to home.

In one community in Kano State, local men Dauda and Lawu were trained to repair broken boreholes. With these new skills, they were able to restore a vital water source that had once fallen into disrepair.

Today, their community has a safe and dependable supply of clean water once again.

The impact is immediate.

Families no longer need to travel long distances for water. Children have more time for school and play. And the risk of diseases, including Neglected Tropical Diseases like river blindness, is significantly reduced.

For people with disabilities, the change is especially meaningful.

Accessible features, such as wheelchair-friendly ramps at water points, make it easier and safer for everyone to collect water independently. It’s a simple addition – but one that brings dignity, inclusion, and freedom.

Clean water is only part of the story.

Through WASH Clubs in schools and community education programmes, children and families are learning essential hygiene practices – like handwashing and sanitation – that help prevent illness and protect long-term health.

These small, everyday actions create lasting change.

Because when communities are healthy, new opportunities begin to open.

Children are able to attend school more regularly. Adults can work and provide for their families. And together, communities can begin to break the cycle of poverty and disability.

This is the power of clean water.

It doesn’t just improve health – it transforms lives.

Thanks to the support of generous people like you, more communities are gaining access to the resources they need to thrive. Broken boreholes are being repaired. New water sources are being created. And vital education is reaching those who need it most.

Yet there is still more to be done.

Many communities across Nigeria continue to live without access to safe water, facing daily challenges that no one should have to endure.

But with continued support, change is possible.

Because of you, families can experience the simple but life-changing gift of clean water.

And for communities like these, that gift brings health, dignity, and hope for a brighter future.