Project Updates
Here are the latest reports from the field.
See photos and maps, read about our programs and partners and see how you're helping, or...
Haiti Video Updates
Monday, February 15th, 2010Haiti Project Update
Monday, January 25th, 2010From the LWI Team…
As we have discussed, LWI has been – and will continue to be – invested in the long term water needs of Haiti. We are working to scale our operations to include 500 well rehabs in 2010. Just as a reference, our programs were completing between 200-300 a year, previously. This scale is possible, but we obviously need your help. As we each work with our constituent base, our common goal is not to see giving spike around this immediate disaster and then dwindle off when the media leaves. Rather, sustained investment in this program will allow the work to continue…. I think of the pressing need for all efforts of on-ground organizations in Haiti to immediately be able to scale, but to do so in a way that is sustainable.
We have found that the migration away from PaP has happened quickly. Our team is currently outside of PaP – and has repaired 9 wells so far (update was as of Friday – work occurred over the weekend). There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we are working to make sure that supplies are on the water to build our capacity. Our teams have reported that there are already people from PaP in Cap Haitian. So, we know from this point forward, work anywhere in the country is a response to this disaster.
After a phone call with our team in Haiti, LWI’s Haiti program director shared that the team indicated: “broken wells are everywhere; they said they could repair wells forever.”
Thank you for your partnership in assuring that long-term water needs are being met in Haiti. I have had an opportunity to keep in touch with many of you, and look forward to continuing to work towards a shared investment in rebuilding water infrastructure in Haiti.
New Well is Complete in Kigwo
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Just in from Stephen H., the drilling supervisor at WHI – our implementing partner in Sudan…
“We are finally finished drilling the well in Muresuk village and let me tell you it was one of the toughest wells we have drilled yet! We actually drilled two different holes. On the first attempt, we drilled all the way down to 100m (328ft) and only found a small amount of water. The amount of water was so small it didn’t keep the dust down as we drilled further.
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New well under construction in Kigwo Sudan
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Hi Water Project! This is Stephen Huber, Project Manager for WHI and I am happy to tell you that we started drilling your well yesterday (Jan. 7th) in the village of Muresuk in Kigwo Boma S. Sudan. We have drilled down to about 24m yesterday and hope to finish the drilling today. The drilling is slow going due to the hardness of the rock.
Kigwo is the most undeserved Bomas (sub-counties) in Kajo Keji County. It has four villages and only one water well. Until recently, the area was very inaccessible due to very poor road conditions and unexploded land mines. Thankfully, deminers have been working hard clearing the road and another NGO has grated the road and built bridges.
Needless to say, the villagers are very excited! Many villagers have shown up to help and contribute labor, materials for pad construction, and food for the crew. The WHI crew is very excited as well to help these people that have been neglected for far to long. Thank you for your support and we will continue to keep you updated on the drilling process. Please have a look at the pictures that were taken yesterday.
Well in India – Sirumayangudi
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
This new well serves a village of about 650 people, mostly agricultural laborers. Before this well was installed they did not have a protected source of water. The well in use was unreliable and filled with garbage (you can see pictures of it below). Today, thanks to the generosity of individual donors to The Water Project, these families are enjoying clean and safe drinking water.
Our implementing partner noted about their visit,
“Arriving at this place and experiencing the fireworks and the celebration was a tad overwhelming but when you consider what they had previously to what exists now, it’s no wonder they were excited to have us and show off their new water source.”
EVA MARRIE GIRLS SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Over 1,500 girls attend the Eva Marrie Girls School in Perambalur, India. The shear size of the school magnified the lack of access to water. Before this well and distribution systems were constructed, the school children would have to leave the grounds to access public taps or they would use a small amount of water which the school was forced to pay for from a “water cart”. Improving access to water means more time in class, less danger traveling outside of school grounds and far better access to proper sanitation, a huge issue for a girls school.
Well in India – BAGAVATHI
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009This was the second of two wells funded by Burns High School FFA. The full name of the location is Kothamangalam Bagavathi Amman Street. This particular village has about 700 Dalit families and like the first had been without a safe and dependable water source.
This village, not far from the first, suffered many of the same water problems. Prior to this well being installed they walked great distances for water. Even then, what they found was water designated for the fields and crop growing – unsuitable and unsafe to drink.
Thankfully,with the help of the students at Burns HS FFA, these people are enjoying their very own protected water source.
Lots of Pictures Inside
Well in India – KATTUR
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009This well, the first of two projects funded by Burns FFA, serves around 750 -900 Dalit families. They have been suffering for some time due to their water needs. Prior to this well being installed they walked great distances for water. Even then, what they found was water designated for the fields and crop growing – unsuitable and unsafe to drink.
The Wells for Life team reported that, as they arrived on the scene “there were a large number of villagers waiting for us along with elected community leaders. It was apparent that the provision of the well, tank and taps was just what they needed. The atmosphere was happy and everyone was celebrating the new gift of water.”
Well in India – METTUPATTI
Monday, November 16th, 2009Mettupatti was the second project funded by Performers for Progress. This well serves nearly 1,000 people!
Like the previous village, this one was made up of agriculture workers who were very poor and had no reliable water source. The water scarcity in the area was apparent as the overhead tank supply was sporadic and limited. Now things are different thanks to Performers for Progress. The people now have their own water tank which will give them safe water throughout the day and eliminate the need for extended travel just to have sufficient water for the day’s needs.
1,000 people call this place home. They are very poor, making a few dollars every day by laboring in the fields. They were very excited to have us visit and were very appreciative of the new well.
Well in India – SIRUMAYANGUDI
Monday, November 16th, 2009This was the first of two projects being funded by Performers for Progress. It will serve a village of 600 people.
When the Wells for Life team arrived they were met by a group of about 30 people, primarily the women and children of the village though there were some men present. Most of the villagers had left for the fields as it was early afternoon by the time we arrived in this place.
We saw many of the places where they lived and their primary water tap which was unreliable. Now thanks in large part to the generosity of Performers for Progress, these villagers are enjoying their very own protected water source. This improved source will meet all of their water needs.
