Rehabilitation Project
This project was implemented by another partner, but is now monitored and maintained by The Water Project together with Mariatu's Hope.
When the Sierra Leone team arrived, 300 residents were dependent on an unprotected spring well located .1 of a kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this, families were suffering from cholera and dysentery. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of five women and five men who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided any materials they had available and guarded the team’s equipment during the night. Most residents farm, petty trade, fish or raise livestock to earn a living. The nearest school is located .1 of a kilometer away from the community whose students have access to the new, safe water source.
The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with fifty-five year old community member and petty trader, Isata Conteh, who stated, "The old water source had a bad taste because we used rope and rubber to fetch water, after we finished fetching the water we dropped the rubber on the ground were Dogs and Chickens roam about, The rope that we normally used to fetch the water dropped inside the well and contaminated the water. The new source is well protected from germs and other diseases. It is a hand pump."
The people at Mahera were very happy and they received the team well. It proved to the Sierra Leone team, that they have unity among themselves and the well is nearest to their garden areas where they plant Onions. Since this is a new WASH committee set up at this well, no money had been collected. The committee has been instructed that they will need to impose a fee for water so when the pump has problems they can repair it themselves.
