A Year Later: Kafunka Community

October, 2018

“We used to leave our evening classes… to go and find drinking water for our parents but now we have pure drinking water.” – Mariatu

A Year Later: Kafunka Community


A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to restore water to Kafunka Community. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local 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 – and we’re excited to share this one from local team member Edward Amara with you.


The people of this village now have reliable, pure water. As a result, they no longer go to the swamp to fetch water. This has improved health, reducing many issues like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.

The village surrounding the well is very hygienic. They take care of their environment by cleaning their toilets and take care of themselves by using dish racks for their dishes and clotheslines for their clothes. There have been so many changes because of what community members learned during training. They know to wash their hands with soap and water, cover their food, and clean their water containers.

We spoke with Mr. Momoh Sesay and young Mariatu about the other changes they have witnessed in Kafunka.

"We the people of this village are saying many thanks," he said.

"We are benefiting from this water well because our wives and children are no longer going to the swamp anymore to fetch water. Before this time, one of our children... was bitten by a snake in the swamp just to fetch water."

From left to right: Mr. Momoh Sesay, Mariatu, and Edward Amara

"But now, we are safe from all those problems."

Rehabilitation of the well is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is 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 well in Kafunka is changing many lives.

Edward Amara interviewing some of the children who use this well.

"One of the big changes that had happened in this community is that during the previous years back before the establishment of this water project, we used to leave our evening classes... to go and find drinking water for our parents but now we have pure drinking water," remembered 12-year-old Mariatu.

"Also, we are healthy today, not like in those days when we used to drink the water from the swamp."

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, 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.



See The Water Project in Mariatu's Community »

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