Shahbaz is a 15-year-old boy who lives with his family in a village in Tajikistan. While other children would normally be studying or playing, he spent most of his time collecting and boiling contaminated water to make it drinkable. Because it was scarce, clean water was an expensive commodity in Shahbaz’s village, available only to those who could afford it.

During school hours, instead of learning, the students took turns walking up the hill from the school to collect about 24 litres of water for their daily needs. They split the task into shifts, with one fetching water for washing and another for drinking. It was as if collecting and boiling water was part of their school curriculum. Shahbaz and his schoolmates were frustrated and felt hopeless. They did not see how they could build a better future for themselves without easy access to clean water.

Fortunately, help was at hand for Shahbaz’s village. The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), in cooperation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Establishment, equipped the village with a network that delivered water directly to homes, schools and community facilities. The project restored hope and alleviated the suffering of 40,000 people in the village.

Now, with easy access to clean water, Shahbaz and his friends are free to pursue their education and follow their dreams without any distractions and restrictions.