Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
It was memorable that so many people were mobilized to come out and join us even though the sun was very hot. There were many who could not come as well due to the funeral of a young girl who died suddenly...a reminder of how fragile life is in this country. When the LWI Burkina Faso team arrived, community members were utilizing a protected hand dug well located half of a kilometer away from the community. Because of this and the communities’ practice of open defecation left families suffering from dysentery, typhoid, malaria, diarrhea and other water related illnesses. During the teams’ stay a water committee consisting of six men and two women who assisted the team with the water project and made food for the team. The water committee is also responsible for collecting a yearly well maintenance fee of $1 per household to help sustain the community's water source. In keeping with our Strategic Plan launched in January of 2011, LWI's plan is to train communities to maintain water projects for sustainability. If communities slip back into a situation where they must rely on unimproved water sources, our donors' investment is compromised. To help prevent this occurrence, Living Water International engages communities to help in planning, managing and monitoring of the rural water supply. Most of the community members depend on subsistence farming and small animal husbandry for their livelihood to help support their families. The nearest school is located two-tenths of a kilometer away from the community and now 178 students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to safe, clean drinking water. Before leaving the community the LWI Burkina Faso team provided community member, Vedomoudia Zingue with a LWI contact number in case the well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft. In an effort to ensure project sustainability, LWI program staff is also responsible for visiting the well site annually.
The LWI Burkina Faso team had the opportunity to meet with forty year old, Village Councilor and Farmer, Di Nouma, who stated, “Before when the pump broke down the people of the village suffered much, and also the animals died of thirst. Now with this rehabilitation we will never see that again. We are very, very happy. May God help you in every place where you go and we ask that God will help and accompany you in all your activities to come. May God accompany us in our families. Thank you very much with our hands empty.” ("empty hands" is a cultural expression that nothing is giving in favor to one another except a deep appreciation).
When the drill team returns to rehabilitate a well, the hygiene team reviews previously taught lessons: Hand washing, how to properly transport and store water, disease transmission and prevention, how to maintain proper care of the pump, as well as signs and symptoms of dehydration and how to make Oral Rehydration Solution. They also introduce possible additional lessons covering latrine perceptions, healthy nutritional choices, and review good and bad hygiene practices.
