A Year Later: Protected water and healthy hygiene practices!

Last year the hand-dug well serving this area of the community of Rosint could not provide enough water to meet everyone's needs. Not only that, but the well was also prone to contamination from multiple sources, making its water unsafe to consume.

"Before, the old water point was a hand pump, but it was not [protected], and animals like sheep, goat, and chicken feces were [al]most everywhere on the well pad. The water point was not in control, and we were bathing and laundering around the water point surroundings," said 17-year-old Salumatu K.

But when we helped to rehabilitate the well last year and held our community hygiene training, things started turning around for the community, and safer water became a reality.

"The water point is more protected, safe, and pure to drink," said Salumatu. "The water point is fenced, it has a gate, [and] animals [can]not access inside the perimeter of the fence anymore. We are no longer bathing or laundering around the water point environment anymore."

"Through the water point construction, [we] learned about good hygiene practices. We plan to take good care of the water point and to ensure that [the] water point is clean. We have achieved [having] a Water User Committee that is key [and] responsible to look after the water point," said Salumatu.

With access to safer water whenever they need it, the future looks much brighter for those living in Rosint.

Salamatu (in pink) with community member Elizabeth outside the well.