Rosarian Community

September, 2024: Rosarian Community Well Rehabilitation Complete!

We are excited to share that your donation provided a safe, reliable well at the Rosarian Community. As a result, community members no longer rely on unsafe water to meet their daily needs. We also conducted hygiene and sanitation training, which focused on healthy practices such as handwashing and using latrines.

Rosarian Community members celebrating safe water!

"The waterpoint will help me to cook the food easily for my workers. Before, I found it difficult to fetch enough or safe water to cook the food for my workers at the farm. I usually cooked the food late due to [the] long distance and inadequate safe water access in the community. Because of this, my workers were not able to farm vastly, and this hindered my production. Now [that] we have this water point, I will be able to cook the food quickly and have safe drinking water for my workers," 48-year-old Hawa Conteh, a local farmer, shared.

Hawa Conteh Celebrating her new waterpoint!

"This new waterpoint will make a difference in the lives of my grandchildren. They will not walk long distances to access water, [and] they have enough water to launder their uniforms, bathe, drink, and they will be able to go to school quickly. They will not be late to go to school," Hawa continued.

The children were as excited as the adults!

Twelve-year-old Isatu was eager to share what clean water access means for her.

Isatu (front) celebrating clean water access!

"Having reliable water in my community impacts me a lot. At first, it [was] a big challenge for me to access water quickly, and this delayed me to go to school on time. Spending [so] much time to collect water caused me [to have] fatigue, and I would not be able to study my school notes at night. It would cause me to get poor grades. Now, [with] this waterpoint in my community, I will improve on my studies and get good grades," said Isatu.

After construction was complete, we held a dedication ceremony to officially give responsibility for the well to the community members. Several local dignitaries attended the ceremony, including representatives from The Ministry of Water Resources and the Port Loko District Council. Each official gave a short speech thanking everyone who contributed to the rehabilitation of the water project and encouraging everyone to take good care of it. Then, Hawa and Isatu made statements on their community's behalf. The ceremony concluded with celebration, singing, and dancing.

Community celebration during the dedication ceremony.

Clean Water Restored

The community provided space for the team to store their belongings and meals for the duration of their stay. The following day, the work began!

Preparing to drill.

First, we raised the tripod, the structure we use to hold and maneuver each drilling tool. Next, we measured the hand-dug well's original depth and socketed the pipes to install a casing.

Finally, we started to drill! We reached a final depth of ten meters with water at six meters. The team installed the cylinder as far below the water table as possible so that the community has reliable access throughout the year.

Installing the casing to ensure a reliable water supply.

With drilling complete, we installed screening and a filter pack to keep out debris when the water is pumped.

Bailing the well to ensure clean water.

Next, we bailed the well and flushed it, clearing any debris generated by the drilling process. Lastly, we tested the water flow to ensure the well would provide clean water with minimal effort at the pump.

Building the well pad.

As the project neared completion, we built a new cement platform, walls, and drainage system around the well to seal it off from surface-level contaminants. The drainage system helps to redirect spilled water to help avoid standing water at the well, which is unhygienic and a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Installing the well pump.

At last, we installed the pump and conducted a water quality test. The results showed that this was clean water fit for drinking!

The rehabilitation was successful!

Community Education

Before conducting any hygiene training, we collaborated with the local water user committee to understand the community’s challenges and lack of sanitation facilities. We identified households without handwashing stations or ones that may need to repair their latrines. With this information, community members worked together to improve hygiene and sanitation at home before the training.

We also invited a nurse from the local clinic to help explain some topics and spread awareness about Sierra Leone's free vaccinations for children under five. Nurse Isatu Bangura was instrumental in reinforcing each lesson.

After this preparatory period, we scheduled a time when members from each household using the waterpoint could attend a three-day hygiene and sanitation training.

Handwashing training.

We taught about proper handwashing, personal and menstrual hygiene, and healthy habits such as using latrines and maintaining a balanced diet. We discussed how disease transmission and water hygiene are crucial to community health. We emphasized the importance of maintaining and caring for the well pump and the cost recovery system.

Healthy hygiene practices lesson.

The turnout for this three-day training was excellent! The whole community came together to learn and participate. Field Officer Alie Kamara said that everyone contributed positively throughout the training.

The Rosarian Community had never received hygiene and sanitation training before, so many of the topics were new, and they are hopeful they will be life-changing!

Hawa Conteh, previously quoted, shared what lesson was most surprising to her.

Hawa engaged in the training session.

"Malaria was the most interesting topic we covered in the hygiene training. We can only get malaria when a female anopheles mosquito bites a person. At first, I thought that we could get malaria when we eat [an] orange. But with the help of this hygiene training, I learned that female anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria. Also, we can prevent malaria when you sleep under [a] treated mosquito bed net, clean the surroundings, [and] use [a] mosquito coil or mosquito repellant," she said.

"I feel hopeful for this community. Now [that] they have access to safe water, and all water challenges are over. This waterpoint brings hope and joy to this community. Everyone is happy, and you can see smiles on their faces," concluded Field Officer Alie Kamara.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

July, 2024: Rosarian Community Well Rehabilitation Underway!

The lack of adequate water in the Rosarian Community costs people time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!