Clean Water Changes Everything: Terphyar Water Project
For decades, the village of Terphyar, nestled in the remote Solukhumbu region of Nepal, has endured unimaginable hardship due to severe water shortages. Families have struggled to collect water from distant, unreliable sources daily, sacrificing their health, education, and livelihood. Accessing clean water—a fundamental human right—has been an uphill battle, depriving children of school time and forcing villagers to prioritize survival over growth. Fetching water was physically exhausting and time-consuming, taking villagers away from their families and work, limiting their ability to engage in productive activities, and affecting their health.
The springs, located about a 30-minute walk from the village, would often force residents to queue for water, with only one person able to fill a 25-liter jar at a time. This slow process, combined with the round trip to the springs, would take up to an hour each time. During the monsoon season, the path to the springs became especially treacherous, with slippery conditions and an infestation of leeches, making an already challenging task even more difficult. This was a grim daily reality for families, particularly women and children who bore the burden of fetching water.
In early 2024, K&A donated approximately $3,700 to Action for Nepal (AFN) to fund a water project to bring reliable, clean water access to Terphyar. Our partnership with AFN is built on shared values of transparency, and a commitment to giving back to communities in need, and we have been proud to collaborate on this and other initiatives over the years.
The project was completed with full transparency in less than a year, transforming the lives of the villagers. AFN constructed two spring intakes that maintain reliable water flow throughout the year and a 5,000-liter (1320.86 gallon) ferro-cement reserve tank designed to meet the village's water needs.
Additionally, 16 high-quality water taps were installed throughout Terphyar, bringing water directly to households for the first time. Residents now pay a nominal monthly fee to cover maintenance costs, ensuring the system's sustainability for years.
The impact of this project cannot be overstated. What was once a grueling and often dangerous task has been replaced by turning on a tap. As Rupi Maya, a resident of Terphyar, shared, "Now, I can hardly believe it. There is a water tap right in front of my house. The day our tap was installed, I felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I thanked God for finally seeing and addressing our hardships."
This project has provided newfound freedom for families who once spent hours each day collecting water. Children can now focus on their education, and adults can devote more time to farming and other productive activities while benefiting from improved health and hygiene.
A message from the Mayor of Mapya Dudkhoshi Rural Municipality, Buddhi Kiran Rai:
"On behalf of the local government and the residents of Terphyar village, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the exceptional new water system that has been installed in our community. Before this project, our village faced significant challenges due to a lack of access to water. The absence of a reliable water source resulted in poor sanitation and hygiene, limited farming opportunities, and made daily life extremely difficult.
This project represents a crucial advancement for our community, and we are profoundly thankful for the support provided by Action for Nepal and K&A. Your dedication has addressed an urgent need and has instilled hope for a better future in our village. Thank you once again for your generous support and commitment."
