Rehabilitation Project
This well rehabilitation project is part of the Waterloo, Peninsula Jr. Secondary School Zone.
The team has visited the well site and determined that this project will require deepening before they can attach a new well pump. The well is located at a primary school.
Recent severe droughts in the area have caused most of the wells we are now encountering to require this deepening. Without it, the wells are at risk of drying up later in the year. This had caused very long delays in our program here, though we're glad that progress is still being made.
The well project is in one of the communities surrounding the Waterloo, Penninsula Jr. Secondary School. Students at this school live in the this community. These students now have access to clean, safe water at their school and at home. The students are also being trained how to teach their fellow community members about proper hygiene.
Our implementing partner reports from the field...
A team member commented, 'This project was held at the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School. This was a really great school, with much community involvement. One of the community members was so pleased at the latest test results that they built school pit latrines so the children would have a toilet instead of using the bush. Community elders attended the hygiene training. There is a real sense of community pride at this school.' When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a protected hand dug well located .4 of a
kilometer away from the community, to meet all of their water needs. Because of the community’s dependence on the contaminated water source, families were suffering from dysentery, typhoid and malaria. During the team’s stay, community members assisted the team with the water project whenever possible and helped the team provide security over the project during the night. Most community members sustain their families by working as teachers, petty traders, gardening, fishing or working for the government. The nearest school is a primary school located in the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source.
The team had an opportunity to meet with thirty-four year old community member and head teacher, Philmen Senessie, who stated, 'The difference is great. This well is covered with a hand pump and water comes directly from the ground. From the open well water splashes from someone's foot and goes back into the well. The well is right near a pig pen. This hand pump method is more preferable. I am very happy. I really appreciate it. I'm happy over Living Water coming and checking on us.'
During the hygiene education, the team trained the teachers and community members. In all, the Sierra Leone team trained 40 people and distributed 42 Oral Rehydration Solution spoons. The teachers were encouraged to keep a supply of salt and sugar with extra spoons and cups in the office. The teachers will now train the students, and the team was also able to share hygiene education with several of the community elders. A team member stated, 'It was very exciting to be able to share this information with community elders.' During the hygiene education, the team addressed: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, healthy and unhealthy hygiene behaviors, clean hands and clean hearts and dental hygiene.
