By Jalene Jacob
A Simple Desire
When I decided to join Wells Bring Hope, I wasn’t entirely sure how I would balance part-time volunteering with my full-time career in healthcare. What began as a simple desire to give back quickly became something much deeper: a source of joy, connection, and purpose. I remember attending my first team meeting and being struck by how passionate everyone was. With the most supportive leaders, each person brings a unique story and skill set, yet we all unite by one shared belief: that access to clean water can transform health and empower communities.
A Deeper Joy
Volunteering and collaborating have always been a meaningful part of my life, but my experience with Wells Bring Hope has been uniquely rewarding. Though balancing a full-time career in medicine while volunteering might sound challenging, it has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my profession. Through my work on the “Volunteer Management,” “Newsletter Editorial” and Blog teams, and by helping recruit new volunteers and share stories from the field, I have come to appreciate how service, no matter how small, reflects far beyond what we can see.
There is something deeply powerful about knowing that my efforts, combined with those of other volunteers, help bring clean water and hope to underserved communities. Whether I am editing a story, onboarding a new volunteer, or highlighting the incredible work being done on the ground, I can see both the direct and indirect impact of our collective work. Every new well, every story, every new volunteer, reminds me that transformation begins when people decide to show up and give of themselves.
Unity with Diversity
What makes Wells Bring Hope truly special is the diversity within its community. Our volunteers span generations, professions, and cultures, yet we work together with one shared mission: to save lives and empower women, girls and communities through access to safe water. Collaborating with people who share this common purpose is energizing and brings meaning to every project.
For anyone who has ever considered volunteering and is wondering where or how to start, I can only say that there is a place for you here. Whether you have a few hours a month or can contribute regularly, every skill, story, and act of service counts. You don’t have to be an expert, just show up with a willing heart.
Being part of Wells Bring Hope continues to remind me that when we give of ourselves, we don’t just change the lives of others, we also change our own. In serving, we discover connection, purpose, and humility that transcends distance and circumstance.
The Immeasurable Impact
Volunteering with Wells Bring Hope teaches empathy, patience, and perspective. It reinforces that change often happens in the consistent, behind-the-scenes efforts that make someone else’s life better. Every story I help share, every new well that’s counted, and every new volunteer I partner with becomes a small contributing part in a much larger story of hope and transformation.
Each time a new well is drilled, it represents more than clean water. It symbolizes restored dignity, health, and opportunity. Women no longer walk for miles in search of unsafe water, and children can spend their days in school rather than collecting it. Knowing that our collective efforts contribute to this transformation fills me with tremendous gratitude and reminds me why this mission matters.
