Joyce Mahanyi: “When you educate a woman, you educate the whole community”

Joyce Mahanyi is a champion and changemaker in her village, Lungongole. As secretary of the women's economic empowerment platform in Kibaoni ward and the chairperson of the women's economic empowerment platform at the village level, she decided to share the learned knowledge and to educate her community on how to protect water resources.

Women's groups

Joyce began her mission by involving her fellow women so that they too could gain an understanding of water resources management. Until now, she has formed four groups of women in four sub-village which are Lungongole A, Lungongole B, Mkochi, and Mikunjo to educate them and cooperatively take care of water sources.

Through the village general assembly and sub-village meetings, she further disseminates knowledge on protecting water sources.

Every member of the village has the right to use clean and safe water

She also undertakes several initiatives to ensure that water sources are and remain safe. For instance, she works with other village leaders to inspect the water source (spring) in their village to see if it is clean.

And participates in cleaning the environment near the water source in order to get clean and safe water in the community. She also fights to ensure the water source is not used for private benefit, but for all of the community, she says “every member of my village has the right to use clean and safe water”.

Women are the main pillar of society

Joyce believes that women are the main pillar of society. A woman is the first victim if there is a lack of water, so it is important for a woman to realize the importance of taking care of water sources before the impact occurs. Moreover, women ensure that knowledge is shared because: “if you educate a woman, you educate the whole community.”

Learn more about WASH and Learn programme.