Benke Community
Project Snapshot
Country: Sierra Leone
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude 8.636317
Longitude -13.214717
Impact:
Total Served: 200
Status: Completed (?)
Completion Date (or estimate): 11/09/2010
Share this Project
Most of the people in the community earn a living as teachers, skilled men and traders. Their previous water source was from a river that would cause dysentery and malaria in the community. The rising main in the pump was leaking at the joins and the wall around the water was falling down. This community was eager to help by providing labor and materials. The team repaired the pump head, pump handle, rod-sucker, rising main-drop pipe and the cylinder along with repairing the well pad and a new Afridev hand pump was installed. Also, people kept coming to join in the hygiene training. At the well dedication ceremony there was lots of singing and dancing. When the project was complete the community established a point person to be the caretaker of the well. Testimony from a community member: Rugiatu Kabba, 40 year old trader spoke with the team about the water needs for her community. “The hand pump is easy to use. The water comes out freely. The water is clean which will prevent sickness.”
There were 79 adults and 40 children who attended the hygiene training session. They were excited to receive this information. In addition to the lessons, the team discussed the importance of using a toilet. They encouraged those without toilets at their homes to please dig a native toilet. They explained the concept behind this. Some said they would do this. Lessons included: hand washing- proper techniques and water saving methods, healthy unhealthy communities, oral rehydration solution, proper care of the pump, keeping the water clean, good-bad hygiene behaviors, and disease transmission stories.
The community gathered around the well to pray with the team before beginning any work. There was bible storying done during the hygiene training. The community gathered back around the well upon completion to dedicate the well back to Papa God. The gospel was presented. There was singing and dancing and giving thanks to God for this wonderful donor who provided this cup of clean water in Jesus’ name to the people of this community.
Project Photos
Sponsors
Country Details
Sierra Leone
- Population: 9.7 Million
- Lacking clean water: 47%
- Below poverty line: 70%
- Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season; winter dry season
- Languages: English, Mende, Temne, Krio
- Ethnic Groups: 20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10%
- Life Expectancy: 48 years
- Infant Mortality Rate: 155 deaths per 1000 live births
Partner Profile
Living Water International
Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to help the church in North America be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving the poorest of the poor. 600 million people in the world live on less than $2 a day. 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water.
For all practical purposes, these statistics refer to the same people; around the world, communities are trapped in debilitating poverty because they constantly suffer from water-related diseases and parasites, and/or because they spend long stretches of their time carrying water over long distances.
In response to this need, we implement participatory, community-based water solutions in developing countries. Since we started, we’ve completed water projects for 7,000 communities in 26 countries.
It all began in 1990, when a group from Houston, Texas traveled to Kenya and saw the desperate need for clean drinking water. They returned to Houston and founded a 501(c)3 non-profit. The fledgling organization equipped and trained a team of Kenyan drillers, and LWI Kenya began operations the next year under the direction of a national board.
That pattern continues today; we train, consult, and equip local people to implement solutions in their own countries.
Remembering the life-changing nature of that first trip in 1990, we also lead hundreds of volunteers on mission trips each year, working with local communities, under the leadership of nationals, to implement water projects. It’s hard to know which lives are changed more—those “serving” or those “being served.”
Our training programs in shallow well drilling, pump repair, and hygiene education have equipped thousands of volunteers and professionals in the basics of integrated water solutions since 1997.
