Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
When the Living Water Burkina Faso team arrived, 125 families including a local school, Protestant Church, and Catholic Churche were dependent on an unprotected hand dug well located 2 kilometers outside the community, an unprotected spring and various forms of surface water both located a kilometer outside the community, tube wells and a protected dug well located 4 kilometers outside the community to meet all of their water needs. The community’s use of shared latrine facilities and pit latrines coupled with access to a safe water source and continued hygiene promotion will help reduce the spread of disease in the area and promote the adoption of other good hygiene behaviors. Because of this, families were suffering from diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a Water Committee and Self-help group who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible and who is responsible for helping maintain the well after the team leaves the area. Most residents are of Protestant or Catholic faith and the local churches will continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with community families, using the provision of safe drinking water as an entry-point to sharing the Good News. There is another NGO, PABSO (German NGO Project) working in the area to cultivate the development of rice fields and irrigation. Before leaving the community, the team provided the Water Committee with a Living Water Burkina Faso contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.
During the hygiene education and using the Living Water Traditional Method, the team addressed: Germs, Hand Washing-Proper Techniques and Water Saving Methods, Good-Bad Hygiene Behaviors, Proper Care of Pump and Keeping the Water Clean.
The Living Water Burkina Faso team had an opportunity to meet with 43-year-old community member, and Health Agent for the Mayor’s office, Richard Koum, who stated, “First of all, I want to wish you welcome in our community. In the name of the municipal council of the rural commune of Bondigui, of which I am the 2nd chair to the Mayor, I take this word to thank you for all the activities that you have brought here in the domain of clean water. In behalf of the sons of the village, I don't know how to thank you, because water is life. I am very happy to have an association to bring alongside of you. We ask you to continue to accompany us always, us and the other villages that suffer without water. Clean water permits us to escape illnesses. Truly I am very happy with the village and truly full of joy."
