Taking strides into the new year
BY HANNAH MATTHEWS
My name is Hannah, and I’m a Water Programs Senior Manager at charity: water. I’m also a distance runner. I’ve found that in both contexts, January is a time for recommitment: Reflecting on the progress that’s already been made, setting some goals for the year to come, and developing plans to get there. When it comes to working with local partners, that means asking questions like, How can I help them scale that new, impactful initiative? What support does this program need to do their best work?
This year, one of my partners in Uganda is introducing a new technology. They’ve traditionally built wells with hand pumps — ideal for smaller rural areas. But with growing water needs in larger towns, they’re adding a piped system, which reduces walk times and waiting by offering multiple collection points. It’s exciting to see programs evolve to meet community needs and to support partners as they innovate and grow.
When you work on a problem as big as the global water crisis, it can be easy to feel intimidated by the enormity of solving it. But taking time to reflect on the accomplishments from the past year and focusing on how I can make an impact in the year to come always reminds me why I chose this field of work.
At charity: water, we commit our time to help solve the water crisis, but our goals would be impossible to achieve without you. Thank you for your continued support and generosity. What will you commit to this month that feels meaningful?
