Volunteers say the project has already reduced waterborne illness in the community.

Residents of a small village in Kenya have clean drinking water for the first time, following a project led by international volunteers who helped fund and build a new well over the past six months.

Previously, many families, mostly women and children, spent two to three hours each day walking to a nearby river to collect water that was frequently contaminated, contributing to recurring cases of waterborne illness.

Community leaders say cases of illness among children have already dropped noticeably since the well opened, and with less time spent on water collection, school attendance has risen sharply.

The organisation behind the project says it plans to fund similar wells in three neighbouring villages over the next year, pending further donations.