Rehabilitation Project
Upon the completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
Community Details
When the Living Water Burkina Faso team arrived in Zanawa Community to rehabilitate the community’s well, 187 families, a primary school and 2 local churches were primarily using a rope and bucket to draw water from an open well to sustain the entirety of their water needs! Other water sources depended on by the community were: 3 unprotected hand dug wells, an unprotected spring, tube wells, 2 protected dug wells and various forms of surface water. Because of the community’s dependence on these unsafe water sources and their practice of open defecation, families were suffering from typhoid, malaria, cholera, dysentery, diarrhea and severe dehydration. The school has access to a pit latrine with a slab that is not solely used. During the implementation of the water project, the team suffered in the hot sun, a team member commented, "The sun was very hot while we worked, beating down upon us and there was no shade." The team worked through this obstacle diligently to restore safe drinking water in Zanawa Community and the community worked diligently along side the team to help support their efforts! Community members took it upon themselves to establish a water committee consisting of 6 men who provided materials for the project, assisted with labor including the re-construction of the well drain and are excited to help take care of their restored water source! The community also established a self help group and community health club who share a common goal with community health workers to
help better community outcomes and play an impactful role encouraging the adoption of good hygiene behaviors. There are 2 other NGOs working in the area: PAP and PABSP who are working to help promote agriculture including rice cultivation and the planting of gardens.
Though there are many Christians in the community, there are also several of Muslim faith. The 2 local churches are committed to continuing to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with these families and to help cultivate believers! The church will now be able to use the provision of safe drinking water as an entry-point to sharing the good news with community families.
Hygiene Promotion
During the hygiene education and using the Living Water Traditional method the team discussed with 222 participants, using a participatory method: Germs, hand washing- proper techniques and water saving methods, good-bad hygiene behaviors, proper care of the pump and keeping the water clean.
After the hygiene education, a participant commented, "Concerning our health, the hygiene instructor gave us a good teaching on how to maintain our pump and keep the well site free from contamination. This also permits us to safe-guard clean water which will help us avoid getting sick. Thank you!"
Community Member Interview
The Living Water team met with 39-year-old community member and school principle, Sanon, who stated, "Truly this is a real pleasure for us. It's been a long while since the pump broke down. It's a pleasure to see water pumped out of the school well again. The students are proud of the rehabilitation of the pump. We are very satisfied!"
