Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
Community Details
Safe drinking water was not accessible for families living in Kombazien Community. Desperate for help, community leaders sought out the Living Water Burkina Faso team to help with their water problem. The community’s water needs were supported by two unprotected hand dug wells, three boreholes, two protected hand dug wells and various forms of surface water. When the Living Water team arrived in Kombazien Community to secure safe drinking water for 610 families, immediately, a 6-person Water Committee commenced and assisted the team for the duration of the well rehabilitation. (Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people. This community would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.) The local church also worked alongside the team to encourage evangelism among community members.
In the community, heavily influenced by Muslim beliefs, the name of Jesus was not often spoken. The church worked diligently to support well reconstruction efforts and capitalized on every opportunity to share the gospel. The church also worked to encourage the adoption of good hygiene and sanitation practices, as open defecation is common throughout the Orunkua Commune. The church and Living Water team shared the dangers of this and other observed life-threatening practices with community families.
Hygiene Promotion
"We, the people of Kombazien, this is the first time that we have seen a team who came to our village to give a great training over the maintenance of the pump and over hygiene lessons. This training has been greatly beneficial. It is going to help us to maintain our pump, and keep water also always drinkable." Encouraging words were shared collaboratively by 68 people including 32 men, 24 women and 12 children. During the hygiene education, the Living Water team used the Traditional Method, where minimum standards are shared during hygiene education. The Living Water team has an option to select 5 lessons from 15 that they discern are best fit for the community. During hygiene and sanitation training in Kombazien, the following lessons were shared: germs, hand washing-proper techniques and water saving methods, good-bad hygiene behaviors, proper care of the pump and keeping the water clean. The lessons were all taught in a participatory method to help participants discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices and implement community-driven solutions.
Community Member Interview
"Before, when the pump was broken down, it was not easy," shared 33-year-old community member and medical worker, Panhoro. "We had to travel many kilometers to find water and it was not good enough to drink. Thus, with this rehabilitation, it's a joy, which is ringing out in the village! Everyone is happy! It is a sure thing that we can find clean water in the village now. I want to thank the project Living Water International and their partner The Water Project who thought of us, and all their donors. Now, we have clean water here today in the village! Thank you very much!"
