Rehabilitation Project
Our implementing partner reports from the field (unedited)...
A Sierra Leone team member commented, "Even though there are no jobs for the youth, they were eager to help make casing and do farming. They are all eager to push development in their community and are active with the push towards Christianity in their community." When the team arrived, community members were suffering from dysentery, typhoid and malaria. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of four men and two women who assisted the team with the project whenever possible and who are responsible for helping maintain the well after the team leaves the area. Most community members earn a living teaching, working as pastors, petty trading, fishing and tapping palm wine. The nearest school is located less than one kilometer 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 and head man, James Harding, with a contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.
The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with twenty-seven year old community member and trader, Marine Gordon, who stated,"The distance to the old water source was so far while with the new source it will make things easy. The old was not protected like this new one, so going to the other community sometimes they were allowed and sometimes we have to wait for the other people in their community first. This new well will serve us well with good pure water."
This community is a catchment community for Peninsula Secondary School. The hygiene training was done with students from the Child Health Club who lives in Samuel Town assisting. It was really great to see them in action. The community was very receptive to what they had to say. The headman and elders have previously attended hygiene training sessions and were also very active in this training. This community is targeted for CLTS. During the hygiene education, the team addressed: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, proper water saving techniques, healthy and unhealthy communities, how to take proper care of the pump, how to keep the water clean, good and bad hygiene behavior and disease transmission stories.
(NOTE: We are aware of the issues with the photographs being distorted. We are working to acquire new images)
