Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
When the team arrived, 300 families and several churches were dependent on various forms of surface water located a kilometer away from the community, an unprotected hand dug wells located 10 kilometers away from the community, tube wells located 9 kilometers away from the community and protected hand dug wells located 4 kilometers away from the community to meet all of their water needs. (Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people. To learn more, click here.) Because of this and the community’s practice of open defecation, families were suffering from diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. The community has access to pit latrines and with sustained Hygiene Promotion couples with access to a safe water source the reduction of hygiene and water related illness will be reduced. Most residents are of Protestant or Catholic faith and were provided safe drinking water in the name of Jesus Christ. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a Self-Help Group and Women’s Health Group; all who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, supplied any materials they had available and guarded the team’s equipment during the night. A few other NGOs (P.I.G.E.F.E., PABSO and PNGT II) are also working in this area to assemble a drip irrigation project for gardeners, storage of shea butter nuts, and housing for school teachers. 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 with 133 persons including; 38 men, 41 women and 54 children: 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 48 year old community member, farmer and Village Councilor, Santoinne Kon, who stated, "We are very happy this day. It's a day truly with joy. In reality, we are saved because water is life. This is the center of Ouan and I can say that it’s like a dream that we have realized in this village. There are a lot of activities that you have brought us in our hidden village, and today this gift that we have seen has saved us. Our well was broke down for more than three months. I want to thank first of all the ones who have driven so many kilometers to come and deliver us from our suffering. This population of people are truly very content. Thanks for coming to our village. Thanks for this pump which will save the lives of many from illnesses. The pump is the center of our health. We know that dirty water gives many illnesses. But with this rehabilitation we will enable the people to drive water which is clean. Thank you very much!"
