A Year Later: "It is very easy for children to fetch water"

Before we installed a well at Sierra Leone Church Primary School, the school was often left without sufficient water because its source dried out seasonally and was shared with the surrounding community.

"There was a concern for us as pupils of this school because we were not having full access to the pump, and above all, the pump was too noisy and heavy when pumping," said 12-year-old Elizabeth D. when describing her life before the new well was installed over a year ago.

"Sometimes the community people stopped us from fetching water from this water facility, except our teachers had to come in and assist us because there was no concrete agreement between the community and our school for the ownership of the well," Elizabeth continued.

But since the well was installed, it has provided plenty of water to meet the demands of everyone in need, and the relationship between the school and the community has strengthened.

"I'm so happy because we have full access to the well, and we are no longer stopped by the community people whenever we come to fetch water here. In fact, they have to wait for us anytime we come here to fetch," said Elizabeth.

"It is better now because the school has full access to the pump, and it [is] under [our] full control, and it is very easy for children to fetch water from this water facility. Though the community people are still fetching water here, but we are in charge of the pump, and every decision comes from us, not the community people," said 38-year-old teacher Tunday Kargbo.

"I think having full access to the well has been our plan and goal, and thank God that has been achieved," concluded Elizabeth.

Elizabeth and teacher Tunday Kargbo outside the well.