Every Calendar, a Drop of Future
Photography, to me, is much more than capturing beautiful images. It’s my language – a way to show the world as I see it. And sometimes, it’s a way to help change it.
With my annual calendar, I combine this passion with a cause close to my heart: I collect donations for the Well:Fair Foundation, which builds wells in rural regions of Africa, giving people access to clean and safe drinking water.
In January 2025, I had the privilege of traveling to Tanzania to see the project region with my own eyes. I met people whose everyday lives had been fundamentally changed by access to water – children who can now go to school because they no longer spend hours fetching water. Mothers who can watch their children grow up healthy. Families who have found new hope.
Our journey took us to three very different communities:
One still without access to clean water, where we witnessed how hard everyday life still is.
Another, where we experienced the “flushing” – the moment water shoots from a newly drilled well for the first time. The joy and relief were overwhelming.
And finally, we visited a village that has had a functioning well for several months. There, you could truly feel how life had changed – better health, better education, and a real sense of future.
This journey moved me deeply. It showed me how much impact can lie in a single drop – and why it’s worth continuing.
You can find the full report below.
My Personal Reflection
Day 1
Where Hope Meets Water
Our first day took us to the community of Ihegela – a village of around 1,400 people that has never had access to clean water. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this would be an emotional day. The community welcomed us with heartfelt celebration – singing, dancing, clapping. Beneath all the warmth was a powerful sense of hope for change.
But that hope stands in stark contrast to their current reality. Together with residents, we walked the path to the village’s only water source during the dry season – 2.5 kilometers downhill, only to find a muddy puddle contaminated with bacteria and pollutants. This is the water they drink. Every day. And it makes them sick.
We filled 10-liter buckets and carried them back uphill. Even once was physically exhausting – many here do it several times a day. It was a painful glimpse into a daily routine that most of us can hardly imagine.
And yet: these people have not lost their courage. Because soon, a well will be built here. I saw with my own eyes what “hope for water” truly means – and how much strength it can carry.
Day 2
When the Water Came
On the second day, we visited the community of Mwitikilwa – home to around 2,700 people and a large school. Something very special was about to happen: water was going to be released for the very first time from a newly drilled, nearly 200-meter-deep borehole – a moment known as the “flushing.”
Even our arrival was overwhelming. Hundreds of schoolchildren lined the path, singing, clapping, dancing – a welcome full of warmth and joy. Excitement built as we made our way to the borehole. There, a compressor was connected to push water up from deep below the ground. For a few seconds, everything was still – and then, suddenly, water shot high into the air.
In that instant, the joy erupted: “Maji! Maji!” (Swahili for water) people shouted. They cried, laughed, screamed, hugged each other. It was a moment of pure energy – of deep gratitude, hope, and release.
For me, it was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I stood there, torn between tears and a smile, knowing: this moment could change everything for this community. And I was honored to witness it.
Day 3
Where Water Changes Lives
On the third day of our journey, we visited the community of Ikonongo, where a well had already been completed in the summer of 2024. In addition, gender-sensitive sanitation facilities for students and a separate restroom for teachers had been built at the local school.
From the moment we arrived, we could feel the transformation. The community welcomed us with a heartfelt celebration full of music, dancing, and warm words—a gesture that moved us deeply. We toured the water access points, classrooms, and the carefully tended school gardens. Everywhere we looked, the impact of clean water was visible.
The children told us they no longer get sick, and that they now enjoy coming to school. Enrollment has already increased by 6%. There are now handwashing stations, functioning toilets, hygiene—and above all: dignity, health, and hope for the future.
As a farewell, the women of the community prepared a wonderful meal for us. It was a moment of connection and gratitude that will stay with me for a long time.
This community shows what’s possible—when hope meets support. And it’s a powerful reminder that water is more than a human right: it is the beginning of everything.
