Most Yabagane residents practice subsistence farming to support their families.
When the Living Water Burkina Faso team arrived, families were depending on an unprotected well to sustain their growing water needs. The well had fallen into disrepair six times since its initial construction in 2011. Because of these water issues and the community’s practice of open defecation, families were suffering from malaria, dysentery, cholera, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses.
During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of 3 men and 3 women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible. This water committee is also responsible for collecting an annual well maintenance fee of 700CFA per person (475CFA is equivalent to $1 USD).
We installed the pump head, pump handle, pump base, rods, riser main, the drop pipe, cylinder, and chain. These new parts are all made of stainless steel.
Not only did the team restore clean water to Yabagane, but they also brought important information on hygiene and sanitation. They taught about 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 an Oral Rehydration Solution. All of these lessons were taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices and implement community-driven solutions.