A Year Later: Mayaya Community, Central Mosque

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to restore water to Mayaya 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 Madieu A. Turay with you.

This community has gone through a tough time in terms of sickness. A huge number of people passed away during the Ebola outbreak, and they also consistently suffered from cholera. Things have become so easy since clean, reliable water was provided last year. The community is now free of cholera because they practice what they were taught during the hygiene and sanitation training.

Rehabilitation of this 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.

We spoke to Pa Gribilla Kamara, the pump caretaker, who has witnessed all of the positive developments in Mayaya.

Pa Gibrilla Kamara

"We now have an easy task to fetch water for the mosque," Pa Kamara told us.

He said that the neighboring families are relieved about how open the well has been for their own domestic uses. He said that there's been enough reliable water for them to construct a community center for Mayaya.

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 Mayaya is changing many lives.

19-year-old Mohamed Sumah stopped by the well to get water, allowing us to hear more about the changes in his community.

From left to right: Pa Gribilla Kamara, Mohamed Sumah, and Madieu Turay

"We have stopped going to the beach to fetch water," Mohamed said.

Clean, reliable water is central to him and many other people. Mohamed is studying at a nearby school and says that "students go to school at the time they want to, without being late" due to the availability of water.

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.