Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Water for Sierra Leone

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  Decommissioned

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.

A Sierra Leone team member commented, "We noticed that the well project catalyzed the unity of the community, because the well rehabilitation was something that everyone could benefit from, and everyone had a vested interest in. By the end of the project we experienced a high participation rate in the hygiene training. Each person felt a sense of personal ownership in the well."

When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a river located one kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this, families were suffering from cholera, dysentery, typhoid and malaria. The community also established a water committee who is responsible for collecting a monthly well maintenance fee of $0.012 USD per family. The Sierra Leone team was pleased to learn of the community's use of a covered pit latrine as this will help prevent further spread of disease in the area. During the team's stay, community members assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, guarded the team’s equipment and provided meals for the team. Most community members earn a living by farming or by teaching at the nearby school.

The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with forty-eight year old community member and petty trader, Isata Bangura, who stated, "The new well is a blessing that we have been praying for. The running stream causes so many illnesses."

During the hygiene education, the Sierra Leone team addresses: Hand washing, how to properly transport and store water, disease transmission and prevention, how to maintain proper care of the pump, as well as signs and symptoms of dehydration and how to make Oral Rehydration Solution. All of these lessons are taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices, and implement community driven solutions.

Project Updates


March, 2017: New Intervention Needed at Petifu Junction

The initial project in this community (seen in the reporting found on this page) is a display of our shared commitment to helping this community with first time water access. Equally as important to the community and The Water Project is ongoing support to make sure that water is reliable, day after day, year after year. This is why we monitor all our projects. Over time we’ve found that the water table has dropped in this area, limiting the intended benefit of this well. Though not common, this does happen from time to time.  

Because of our commitment to people in this community (and the lasting impact that our supporters want to make), we’ve drilled this well deeper in order to access a deeper, higher yield aquifer. This work will ensure that clean water is accessible here year round. To see that work, click here.




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.


“The new well is a blessing that we have been praying for. The running stream causes so many illnesses.”

Isata B. - Local Trader

Sponsors


1 individual donors