Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
A LWI Burkina Faso team member stated, "This was a blessed project all the way around. The people of Kolkol were so excited and thankful for helping them restore their pump and have clean water again. The place where they were collecting water was very dirty." When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a water source causing them to suffer from dysentery, typhoid and malaria. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of six men and three women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible. This water committee is also responsible for collecting an annual well maintenance fee of $1.00. Most community members earn a living by subsistence farming or raising livestock. The nearest school is located 1.5 kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided community member, Bakourosier Dabire, with a LWI Burkina Faso contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.
The LWI Burkina Faso team had an opportunity to meet with sixty-three year old community member, housewife and farmer, Ortance Hien, who stated, "We live in this village where the problem of water is difficult, especially when the pump breaks down. We gather water from the creeks, we believe that this is good water. But, if we let it sit, after we see that there is dirt settled on the bottom. But, here it is, today God has come to our aid, thanks to the church association we are very happy! I think that after today we won't have to go to the creek to gather dirty water again. This is the word that all my comrades are saying, to thank the association and to relay our gratitude to the sponsors in the United States. And, to the people in the church, that the Holy Spirit would descend on all of them and that Jesus help this water to be always clean for the people of the village to drink and follow the way of Jesus! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
During the hygiene education, the LWI Burkina Faso team addresses: 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. All of these lessons are taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices, and implement community driven solutions.
