Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
Community Details
This was a project we put into place quickly due to the fact that we had rehabilitated another well in this village in 2012. This well had been broken for nine months, as the well was old and the platform and drainage were broken up and non-functioning. This caused the well pad to hold water, creating a stagnant, mosquito-attracting pool of water at the base of the well. Malaria, dysentery, diarrhea and severe dehydration entered the community as unsafe hygiene and sanitation practices further compromised the people’s already weak health and poorly maintained community. Not only was their sole source of safe water diminishing before their eyes, but simultaneously, the people were being forced to depend on other unsafe water sources to support their growing water needs. These water sources included: unprotected hand-dug wells (4), tube wells (4) and protected hand-dug wells (4). For the 128-family community, safe water was desperately needed to end their suffering. Knowing that safe water was key to eliminating illness and promoting community development and improved health, community leaders sought help from the Living Water Burkina Faso team. Because of the generous donation from The Water Project, Living Water was able to respond to the community’s request for help with restored, safe water.
When the team entered the community, they held an initial discussion about the project with community leaders. The outcome of this discussion resulted in the community’s following agreements:
• To build a wall enclosure around the well.
• To construct a new concrete platform around the pump base.
• To repair the drainage canal.
• To construct a water trough for animals since there is no other place for the animals to drink.
• To construct a drainage soak pit to evacuate excess water and keep the site clean.
After the meeting, the Living Water Burkina Faso team shared, "This was the best mobilization of any village we have seen all year long! The people provided great support, material contributions, and pulled together their personal skills to help with the project construction. For example, there was a skilled masonry worker in the community who worked alongside the team for the duration of the project. The very responsive and responsible community agreed to do all that was proposed and suggested during the initial community meeting, and they now have the confidence and drive to go back and re-do the sanitation around another well project!" To encourage the community with this endeavor and to keep their restored water source functioning, the Water and Sanitation Director for the Commune of Gueguere came out to greet the team and community and express thanks for all the projects that have been completed in his commune. The Living Water Burkina Faso team will also continue to support the community and play a guiding role in well maintenance and water management of the six-person, volunteer water committee. To do so, in 2015, Living Water will reconvene with community leaders and the water committee to develop a solid plan for well maintenance.
During the well rehabilitation, and after the removal of the old, rusty pipes and cylinder, it was determined that the well needed pumping to flush out the contaminated water. With a submersible pump, the Living Water Burkina Faso team pumped the water for a solid hour, until the blackish color in the water was no longer visible. There were no odor, color, or taste problems with the water, and test results indicated that the water was safe to consume. The restored water source not only directly impacts the 128 families living in V4 Badone, but also impacts work being done by another NGO, PLAN and two other government projects: PNGT and CEPAF that are working to bundle rock and conduct well rehabilitations in the commune.
Although the well rehabilitation was a success, the true success of this project was entering this primarily Muslim community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although there are several churches in the community, including the Krista Lawyir Association, Catholic Church and Protestant Church, there were many people who did not know about the saving-love of Jesus Christ. Together, the Living Water evangelist and the three churches shared the gospel, using the provision of safe water as a foundation for securing an evangelical presence in the community. It is hoped that with continued support from the church and Living Water Burkina Faso, that the Good News will not only penetrate this Muslim-practicing community, but will seep into neighboring villages so that the true life-saving water—Jesus Christ— can be shared with the unreached.
Hygiene Promotion
To help the people recognize and utilize the full benefits of safe water, the Living Water team shared life-saving hygiene and sanitation lessons with the people. The team used the LWI Traditional Method, which is a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices and implement community-driven solutions. Some of the lessons taught were: germs, hand washing-proper techniques and water-saving methods, good-bad hygiene behaviors, proper care of the pump and keeping the water clean. In all, there were 170 individuals (80 men, 78 women and 12 children) who learned how to improve their hygiene while hearing about the love of God! The field staff shared:
"The local water committee really took things into their own hands after the hygiene training, and organized the maintenance collection from the community that is a $6 USD annual well maintenance fee that is to be paid per family, maintenance of the pump, and how to keep the well site open. It was all very impressive. They also did an excellent job of mobilizing the community to do all the contributions and work associated with reconstructing the well platform and the
drainage system."
Community Member Interview
"With the history of Jesus that we have come to understand, we want to tell you that the same love now reigns among us in this village. We want you to know that we have left our old religious ways and follow the new path of God," shared 63-year-old community member and farmer, Francis Some. "This [well] has touched many people’s hearts. Like the blind man who left his mat, we have received a good path, and we must glorify God. We must say also that this action has allowed us to have good health always. I, and all the people, are very happy today. Our children, who are our future, will come and drink water from this pump and be blessed. Our community leaders transmit their sincere thanks!"
Christian Witness
The church was involved in this project from the start and was seen as a church that brings water and cares about God’s people! "Church leaders and members took a great interest in the well rehabilitation," shared the Living Water evangelist, "We, as an organization, will continue to provide training and counsel where needed." The water committee has collected money for any future repairs and will continue to take up annual collections to keep the account growing, which will ensure the longevity of this pump so that all the people of V4 Badone can freely drink of clean water!
