Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Water for Sierra Leone

Impact: 400 Served

Project Phase: 
Under Community Care
Initial Installation: Mar 2010

Project Features


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Community Profile

This project was implemented by another partner, but is now monitored and maintained by The Water Project together with Mariatu's Hope.

General Information
The well rehab was at the school located in the Port Loko district of Sierra Leone. There are 400 students at this school, 110 boys and 290 girls. The pump had not been working in more than a year. The pump was badly rusted and the pump cylinder failed. The old pump was removed and a new Afridev pump was  replaced. The community was using a river for their water source. Sicknesses encountered from the water source were dysentery, typhoid and malaria. Most people in the community earn a living through farming. The community helped out with the project by providing labor. This community works well together and there is real sense of unity here. When the project was complete, the community established a point person to be the caretaker of the well. Testimony from a community member: Saidu Bangura, 51 year old teacher spoke with the team about the water needs for the school and his community. "I am very happy to have a new hand pump. It has been over a year with no water here. The students go to the stream and the water is not pure. There has been sickness. We're so thankful for this assistance. Let God bless you."

Testimony
The school students gathered with the team around the well to pray before beginning the work. The children were taught the creation song and had a really great time singing it. The hygiene trainers made Good News bracelets with the students. The Gospel was presented and the local pastor was present to disciple the new converts. This was such a joyous day at this school. Unfortunately, by the time the well rehab was complete, many of the students had gone home for the day. The headmistress wishes to thank the donor very much for putting an end to their suffering! Tell God
Tenke!! (tell God thank you!).

Hygiene Teaching
The teachers and the students at this school were very thankful for this hygiene training. Their toilets are not really toilets. They are holes in the ground with a tire around it. Not very safe and definitely a source for disease transmission. The team would like to find a donor for toilets for this school. The Sierra Leone team is a partner with UNICEF and in addition to our lessons listed below, menstrual hygiene training was taught to 37 fifth and sixth grade girls.

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Project Photos


Project Type

Well rehabilitation is one of the most cost effective ways to bring clean, safe water to a community.  Sometimes it involves fixing a broken hand pump, other times it means sealing a hand dug well to prevent it from being contaminated.  These repairs, and often time total replacements, coupled with sanitation and hygiene training make a huge impact in communities.


Sponsors


31 individual donors
F. W. Lang Contracting Inc.
Faith Lutheran Church (Colorado)
Unitarian Church of Indianapolis
Duane & Katrina Weaver