I grew up believing any water we could find was safe to drink. We fetched it from rivers and streams, grateful to have it, never thinking about the invisible dangers it could carry. For millions in rural communities, that risk is still real today. Clean water is not a privilege, it is life and every life is worth protecting.

From the rivers of Liberia to the global stage, Lucia N. Yeenee shares how water has shaped her life, her purpose, and her storytelling. In this reflection, she explores how lived experiences can become powerful tools for change and why stories must lead the conversation on water and climate resilience.