A Photo Story by Hafsah Saeed
Water is a basic human necessity, yet for students at Vittin Senior High School, getting clean water is a daily battle. The water crisis has trapped them in a draining routine that steals their study time, empties their pockets, and even endangers their health. This is a look into their daily struggles, the sacrifices they make, and their urgent plea for help.
When the final bell rings at Vittin Senior High School, some students head to the library or dormitories. But for Issah Rahinatu, the real work begins. She and her friends grab empty buckets and set out on the long walk to the Ghanasco Dam at Kukuo.
The trip is exhausting. Heavy buckets and jerrycans weigh them down, and some have to make multiple trips, losing precious hours meant for rest or revision. At the dam, students stand in long queues, buckets clanging together. The water they collect is cloudy, with visible particles floating on the surface.
“We know it’s not safe,” Rahinatu says, “but what choice do we have?”
The water is often muddy and contaminated, forcing students to let it settle before use. Still, they rely on it for bathing, washing clothes, and even making gari soakings and tea.
Rukaya, another student, shares that by the time they return from fetching water, evening prep has already begun. “Some of us are too tired to focus, so our grades drop. Sometimes we skip meals just to buy water. If we run out of money, we borrow from friends. It’s a cycle of debt just to get something as basic as water.”
Despite the hardship, these students remain determined. But no one should have to fight this hard for clean water. All they are asking for is a reliable supply — boreholes or piped water — from school authorities or government, so they can focus on what truly matters.
