A Year Later: #5 Main Motor Road

A year ago, generous donors helped build a new well for the community surrounding #5 Main Motor Road in Sierra Leone. Because of these gifts and our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Nanah Mansaray, with you.

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The community surrounding #5 Main Motor Road has benefited greatly from the new well. They have access to safe, pure and clean water and are practicing better hygiene than before.

Mohamed Kamara, the caretaker in the community, says before this well, they were suffering without access to safe water. People would go to the stream for water which was unsafe. “Now, even our community health status has improved for many people,” he says. The community still has some challenges. “Some women come to the well to fetch water with their head untied and some enters the well with their slippers,” explains Mohamed. These rules set by the water user committee, (also explained in our original report), are to ensure proper hygiene around the water point. “The headman and we, the committee members, have imposed bylaws and fines to everyone who breaks the law.”

Salamatu Kamara, a 14-year-old girl in the village explains how her health has improved since the new well was completed. “During the rainy season when we fetched water from the stream, I had vomiting and diarrhea. Now I have access to safe water.”

The pump is working properly and the community seems to be improving on their hygiene and sanitation. They still need to improve on their environmental sanitation and the community people still need to abide to the rules that govern the well. Our staff will continue to monitor the operation of the well, maintenance and chlorination of the pump. We will continue to encourage the water user committee as needed.

The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to 4 times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.