Recently I was in Chad, documenting the work of an NGO that provides food and education for impoverished areas during difficult times. While there, I had the opportunity to talk with and photograph a number of women working to provide for their families. Many of the younger girls were charged with the responsibility of finding fresh water each day — sometimes walking for miles just to find a well or stream. The below photos provide a small glimpse of everyday life for these hard-working Chadians.
![A woman removes the seeds from the pods of legumes grown in her field in southern Chad.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160624/14_33578112093_o-640x360.jpg)
A woman removes the seeds from the pods of legumes grown in her field in southern Chad.
![A woman pauses to relax for a minute before continuing her work shelling legumes under a thatch covering, in a village outside Moundou, Southern Chad.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160751/1_34387733725_o-640x360.jpg)
A woman pauses to relax for a minute before continuing her work shelling legumes under a thatch covering, in a village outside Moundou, Southern Chad.
![This young girl spends much of her day fetching water for her family. Many times, the responsibility of maintaining the family's water supply falls on daughters.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160815/5_34387828725_o-640x360.jpg)
This young girl spends much of her day fetching water for her family. Many times, the responsibility of maintaining the family’s water supply falls on daughters.
![A young girl waits on her mother, who is delivering items for sale in the city of Ndjamena, Chad.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160831/6_34387643185_o-640x360.jpg)
A young girl waits on her mother, who is delivering items for sale in the city of Ndjamena, Chad.
![Three women works the rice fields in 110 degree heat. The fields are irrigated through a system of pumps that bring water in from a nearby river.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160845/7_34003003240_o-640x360.jpg)
Three women work the rice fields in 110-degree heat. The fields are irrigated by a system of pumps that bring water in from a nearby river.
![A family makes the daily trek to the village market, where they hope to sell vegetables they've grown.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160857/8_34003000000_o-640x360.jpg)
A family makes the daily trek to the village market, where they hope to sell vegetables they’ve grown.
![A woman pauses before continuing her journey for water in the arid plains of southern Chad.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160911/9_34387638595_o-640x360.jpg)
A woman pauses before continuing her journey for water in the arid plains of southern Chad.
![A Chadian woman and her two daughters carry heavy loads as part of their daily responsibilities.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160924/10_33577708793_o-640x360.jpg)
A Chadian woman and her two daughters carry heavy loads as part of their daily responsibilities.
![Mother and son returning from a day's work, selling their produce at the village market.](https://cdn.one.org/us/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/12160938/21_34228869902_o-640x360.jpg)
Mother and son returning from a day’s work, selling their produce at the village market.