Rehabilitation Project
On completion of the project, our implementing partner reported from the field...
This village and well was first surveyed by our team early in 2011. Finally in Nov. 2011, we were able to return to begin the process of diagnosing this Volanta pump which had been broken down for 5 years! We found that the rubber values were worn in the cylinder and that there was considerable wear on the cylinder wall. We tried just replacing the cylinder with a new one, but still water would rise up the water main. Thus, we knew there must be a crack in the main pvc rising. So, two weeks later we returned to pull the old pvc tubes and replace it with new ones, but it wouldn't work with the glue we were using. Then, on March 8, 2012 with the right materials and right glue we were able to come back and finish the job correctly installing everything so that clean water flowed again.
A LWI Burkina Faso team member stated, "From a project standpoint, this rehab was frustrating in that it took us so many trips to get the job done. It seemed like every time we went out, there was some problem that prevented us from completing the job. What was truly remarkable was the disposition and patience of the local people to wait for this well to be restored. My inconveniences in scheduling are minor and light, compared to their great need for water and their daily struggle to survive." When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a protected hand dug well located one kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community’s practice of open defecation, families were suffering from dysentery, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of six men and two women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible. Most community members sustain their families by farming and raising livestock. The nearest school is located three 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, Kouboaw Kambire, 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 year old community member and farmer, Zieore Some, who stated, "We want to thank you very much because our well has been broken down the last 8 years. We had no money to repair it ourselves, but thanks to TWP you have come to our aid. May God help your organization with all the other projects you have to find success like you have in our village. We want to thank you in the name of Jesus Christ who has come to save us!"
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.
