The Boy Who Reminded Me of My Son
Why every child deserves clean access to water.
The morning before I flew to Tanzania started like so many others.
My two boys woke up full of energy, ready to play. I packed their school lunches and filled their drink bottles without giving it a second thought.
A few days later, after a long journey, I arrived in a village in Tanzania.
I was expecting heat and dust. But nothing could have prepared my mother’s heart for the stark reality of thirst.
In the village we visited, water wasn’t just scarce- it was incredibly difficult to access.
Everywhere I looked, I saw evidence of it. But what struck me most wasn’t the dry landscape…
It was the children.
As a mum of two boys, I found myself constantly comparing the children I met with my own sons back home. They laughed, played and joked with each other just like my boys do. Childhood looked familiar.
One thing, however, stood out.
Many of the children carried a plastic cup everywhere they went. Some held it tightly in their hands. Others had it tied to their clothing so they wouldn’t lose it. At first, I didn’t understand why.
Then I realised. The cup wasn’t the problem. The missing thing was water.
I noticed many of the children seemed tired. Compared to my own primary-school-aged boys, they didn’t have the same energy. Yet they still found ways to play. I watched them play soccer on a dusty field using a ball made from strips of fabric. Their joy and resilience were remarkable.
The memory of one child in particular stayed with me.
His name is Jonathan. He’s 11 years old, quiet and softly spoken, with kind eyes that reminded me so much of my eldest son.
Jonathan lives in a village in Simanjiro, Tanzania.
When I asked Jonathan about his life, he told me that water is one of his family’s greatest challenges.
His mother collects water for their family. The journey begins around seven o’clock in the morning and can take hours. Sometimes they come face-to-face with elephants along the way.
When I asked Jonathan whether he drinks water every day, his answer stopped me in my tracks.
“I don’t drink water every day. There are days that I don’t drink water and some I do.”
He explained that they go without water three times a week.
As a parent, I couldn’t imagine telling my children they couldn’t have a drink of water when they were thirsty. Yet for Jonathan, this is normal.
Despite the challenges he faces, Jonathan still dreams about the future. He wants to become a doctor so he can help people.
When I asked him how he would feel if water was available at school, his face lit up.
“I would feel so good. Because we have water to drink.”
Meeting Jonathan reminded me that children everywhere are remarkably alike. They want to play. They want to learn. They dream about their futures.
The difference isn’t their potential.
It’s access to something many of us never have to think about. Safe water.
As I left the village, I couldn’t stop thinking about my own boys. Every day they turn on a tap without a second thought. Every day they run, play and learn with water readily available.
Jonathan deserves that same opportunity. And so do the children in his village.
When I came home, I sat down with my boys and told them about Jonathan. Like most primary-aged kids, their first ideas were simple and sweet. “Can we just buy them lots of water?” one of them asked. It opened up a beautiful conversation about what really helps.
We talked about how buying bottled water might help for a short time but wouldn’t change things long-term. Then we spoke about something bigger, like how helping to dig a well, teaching the community how to care for it, would create a lasting source of clean water.
Their eyes lit up.
When I explained that it costs $25 to give someone safe water for life, our boys were eager to be part of it. Recently, my youngest had a birthday and received some money. We’ve been teaching our boys to spend some, save some, and give some- and without hesitation, he chose to give part of his money to help a child like Jonathan.
For our family, a profound lesson in gratitude started with a boy carrying a cup, and a simple reminder of how much we have, and how easily we can share it.
As mums, we constantly look for ways to raise kind, empathetic children.
By giving a gift, you aren’t just filling an empty cup, you’re unlocking a child’s health, education, and future. To find out more about how you can make a difference, visit here.
Article supplied with thanks to Convoy of Hope
Michelle McAndrews, Communications Director, Convoy of Hope Australia & New Zealand
Feature image: Supplied
