Borehole Well and Hand Pump
Rehabilitation Project
Eleven-year-old Emma knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up. "I want to become a nurse," she says, "so I will treat and give health talks to the community people." It's a clear, determined vision — the kind that deserves every chance to become reality. She is one of 355 students at Saint George Roman Catholic Primary School in Bakolo village, Sierra Leone, where four teachers work hard to serve a growing population, where something as basic as water is standing in everyone's way.
But right now, that water crisis is standing directly in Emma's path.
Emma stands in the swamp to collect water.
Every day, Emma picks up a rubber bucket and makes the long trek to a nearby swamp. The school's well broke down years ago, and the swamp is all that's left. The walk alone devours an hour of her day — an hour she could spend in class, taking notes, studying, preparing for the future she's mapped out so carefully.
"I miss lessons, and my uniform gets soaked," Emma says. "I will not be able to return to school quickly due to the distance."
When she does return, she's behind. Notes are incomplete. Lessons have moved on. "My performance at school will not be good," she worries, "and this will lead me not to be promoted to the next class."
Emma hauls water back to school.
The swamp itself is no safe refuge. The water is visibly contaminated — murky, smelling of fallen leaves, surrounded by tall grass where snakes hide in the brush. Emma and her classmates wade in and dip their buckets, a process that only adds to the contamination they're trying to drink around. On days when the journey feels impossible, she goes without water entirely, trying to hold on until lunchtime before making another trip.
The visibly contaminated swamp.
"Any time I am sent to fetch water, I feel bad," she says quietly.
Emma is eleven years old, dreaming of nursing school, dreaming of serving her community. She should be focused on the exam that will determine whether she advances to the next grade — not calculating whether she has time to reach the swamp and back before her teacher moves on.
A rehabilitated well at Saint George changes Emma's equation entirely. It means water on the school grounds. It means a full day in the classroom. It means a girl with a plan gets the chance to see it through.
"I will be happy if this water well gets repaired," Emma says. "So what I get in mind, can come true."
Steps Toward a Solution
Schools without reliable, on-premises water access often rely on students to fetch and carry water, leading to rationing and uncertainty about water quality. The water is typically poured into a communal storage tank and used by the entire school. With children carrying water from all different sources, it is also impossible for teachers and staff to know exactly where the water comes from and how safe it is to drink.
A new water point will be located on-premises at the school to ensure accessibility, reliability, and safety for students, teachers, and staff while meeting our school coverage goals. Having water available at the school allows children to drink, wash their hands, and use sanitation facilities without leaving school grounds, preventing disruptions to lessons and reducing safety risks. A dedicated source increases water availability, reduces reliance on stored water, minimizes rationing, and ensures confidence in the safety of the water. This means staff and students are healthier, and their lessons aren’t disrupted, contributing to a better education!
Our technical experts worked with the school leadership and local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!
School Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each school's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point.
To ensure a lasting impact, we support forming a student health club composed of elected student representatives and a teacher. These clubs promote hygiene practices schoolwide and keep handwashing stations well-stocked. This student-led model encourages a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the school and the surrounding community.
