A Year Later: "I am feeling good!"

Before we rehabilitated the well in Tardi, the well would dry out for multiple months a year, and the pump would regularly break whether there was water or not.

"It was not really easy for me and my community people before this project was completed in my community," said farmer Abdul Rahman Fofanah, who serves as the well's caretaker. We spoke with him last year when the pump was first completed.

"The pump was in existence, but it was giving us a lot of challenges when it comes to functionality issues," Abdul Rahman continued. "The whole community got tired of contributing money for the maintenance of this facility because, after we did maintenance on it, it would not serve us for a week, and it [would] break down again. The most painful part of it was in the dry season during [the] Ramadan period when water was needed most."

"As a disabled person, I was feeling very bad coming here to fetch water," said 17-year-old Maferreh S, whom we also interviewed last year. "The facility was not disabled-friendly, and above all, this facility was not sustainable for us in the community. It always had breakdown issues, which was a major challenge for, not only me, but the community as a whole. Considering my condition, I had to go in search of water anywhere I could find [it] because water is life, and if anyone needs water, it's me."

But now that the well has been rehabilitated, life has improved for everyone in Tardi.

"I am feeling good because I can easily come here at any time and fetch water," said Maferreh. "As you can see for yourself, I am fetching comfortably with little or no challenge. It has impacted on my life because I have access to clean and safe drinking water in my community."

Maferreh and Abdul Rahman at the rehabilitated well.