A Year Later: Benke Community, 12 Brima Lane

A year ago, generous donors helped bring safe, reliable water to 12 Brima Lane in Benke Community, Sierra Leone. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Madieu Turay, with you.

"The well was normally dry during the dry season, but since the intervention in our community we are now boasting a yearly water well, not a seasonable water well," John M’Baina, a teacher and the hygiene coordinator of the well, said.

Indeed they have benefited so much over the past year. Their hygiene and sanitation practices were very poor but since the project, lifestyles have changed. We are now seeing household items like handwashing stations, tippy tap rubbers, enclosed kitchens, clotheslines, and more.

Well construction is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project and Mariatu’s Hope are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This functional well in Benke Community is changing many lives.

"My life has changed positively in a way that I did not waste time in fetching water and also my hygiene and sanitation practice grow every day," Sahr Bangura, a 15-year-old boy, said.

This is not possible without the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, Mariatu’s Hope, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise and how you can help.