December, 2017: A Year Later: #1 Kamara Taylor Street

A year ago, generous donors helped build a new well with the community surrounding #1 Kamara Taylor Street in Sierra Leone. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories. Read more...

September, 2016: #1 Kamara Taylor Street New Well Project Complete

We are excited to share that the new well at #1 Kamara Taylor Street is now providing clean water for the surrounding community. Locals no longer have to risk their lives to fetch dirty water from a swamp that sits at the end of a dangerous path! Hygiene and sanitation training was also conducted, which focused on healthy practices such as washing hands and using latrines. This water and new knowledge give the community a great foothold in eliminating water and sanitation-related illness. Please enjoy this update detailing all the work that was done around Kamara Taylor Street, and make sure to click on the “See Photos & Video” tab above to find new pictures of the finished project.

Thank You for unlocking potential in this community. You made clean water a reality, and now you have a chance to make sure it keeps flowing. Join our team of monthly donors and help us maintain this well and hundreds of other projects!

Project Result: New Knowledge and Hand-washing Stations

Hygiene and sanitation training was held at #10 Wharf Road besides the ocean. The paramount chief's compound is located here, with enough space to host a large crowd of over one hundred!

Before we decided on the dates and times for training, we discussed the community's schedule to ensure the best turnout. A day before the first training session, we returned for a visit to remind the community of the days to which they agreed. Community members were so excited to see us that day before, that we were positive we'd see a huge attendance the following day!

On a cool June afternoon, Friday the 10th, a total of 65 people showed up for the first training session. We consider this the most important day of training, because it's when we teach how to build a hand-washing station and how to use it properly. Children, mothers and fathers showed up with their own plastic container in order to make the hand-washing station. We provided the rope and sticks.

We couldn't hold the next training session until June 27th, because community members would only agree to attend on a Friday afternoon or Sunday morning. That second session drew a total turnout of 42 people. Though a bit less than the first day, this crowd was by far the most enthusiastic about learning. We taught about environmental hygiene, and took walks around the community to highlight both good and bad behaviors. A woman might take her water container to the well, collect clean water, but will contaminate it later by either handling or storing it improperly.

The most impactful lesson was on the importance of having and using a latrine. This lesson was taught at the wharf, drawing a crowd of at least 500! There is no toilet along the entire wharf. What happens when a fisherman needs to use the latrine? He hops into the water and wades deep enough. From there, we started talking about the dangers of open defecation. When we shared a picture of a child doing so, laughter erupted in the crowds. We saw children pointing and shouting at each other, "that's you!" When the laughter died down, we got to work explaining the dangers of this practice, especially because of all the locals who have no shoes. Worm and parasite infestations often go unnoticed until it is too late.

We considered training a success firstly because of the massive turnout. Locals who attended have already constructed their own hand-washing stations and returned home to build a dish rack. Fishermen have even built makeshift urinals as an alternative to going in the ocean.

Training also resulted in the formation of a trained water user committee that will manage and maintain their new well.

Amadu Kamara, a 28-year-old university student, was one of the many who attended training. He recounts the importance of hygiene and sanitation practices in his own life:

During the Ebola epidemic, I was part of the social mobilization and sensitization of my community. All the rules and regulations implemented by the World Health Organization kept our community Ebola free. We are very proud and happy about that achievement. The strict hand-washing used then are the same techniques taught to us by the well-trained hygiene team from Mariatu's Hope. I am happy for getting this refresher course, for me and my community members. The efforts are well appreciated. I am a student with high aspirations to make it out of this community and make something of myself. Parents and siblings are in the fish business, nothing else. My father has three wives with over twenty brothers and sisters, some who I know and some I do not know. It was a miracle to make it to the university level in this community. Old friends made fun of me for attending school, that I was never going to help my mother, that the people that graduated college and are without jobs is where will I end up; nowhere. I make it a point to always go anywhere there is a chance for me to learn. I learned immensely with the hygiene trainers. All knowledge is valuable!

Project Result: New Well

Construction for this new well began on May 10th.

First, two identical holes are dug side by side for supply and waste pits. The drill rig is set up a few feet away from the two holes. The rig is attached to five-foot long metal pipes, capable of drilling to depths of over one hundred feet. The desired depth was attained at 105 feet, pipes inserted, gravel packed, clean filled,and a sanitary seal placed at a depth of three meters. Bentonite is dropped in the hole to prevent the walls from collapsing. The well pad was constructed with a ten-foot diameter. After the pad was made, the wall was erected around the well. The pump was installed, walls painted, and the well is thus ready for a dedication ceremony!

All the while, the community members helped with manual labor, women cooked food for the workers, and men secured our equipment after hours.

There were no challenges or delays during project implementation. In fact, our drill team felt so attached to the community that they found it hard to leave!

Headman Pa Santigie Kamara could have talked and talked trying to express his gratefulness for a water project in his community:

As a headman, the lives and property of all and any community member are in my care. This responsibility was entrusted to me by the leader of the chiefdom, the paramount chief. I am more than thankful, I am grateful, happy and downright appreciative. You have saved the lives of thousands born and yet unborn. The dangers our children faced on a daily basis to fetch water are finally over. The children and women carry the the bulk of chores. I have seen my share of difficulties and I have been praying for blessings like this. I am already on my way out and immensely happy for leaving a legacy for my children and grandchildren. I pray and hope the blessings will keep pouring in for the donors and every other person that played a role in the construction of this well. Thank you for saving our lives, we will never forget!

On July 3rd, more than a hundred people showed up for the well's dedication ceremony. On that day, we officially handed the water source over to the community. There was a lot of rejoicing and celebration, which you can see under the "See Photos & Video" tab above!