Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Water for Sierra Leone

Impact: 200 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.

Community Details

Safe, easily accessible drinking water was not an option for 49 families living in Lungi Community. A river located down a steep and often times slippery slope was the only source of water available. Disease such as dysentery, typhoid, malaria and respiratory illness had sorely impacted the community and the Ebola outbreak still exists as a serious threat. Desperate to end their suffering, community leaders sought help from our Sierra Leone partner while they were working in a neighboring village, and they responded!

Entering the community with safe water and the gospel was not an easy task, in this Muslim influenced community. There were many who lacked motivation and remained distant during the construction of the water point – unsure of the team and the gospel message. Our partner has been working with families in Lungi and established relationships with several of the community women. During Hygiene Education, the women, newly aware of the benefits of safe drinking water, were very engaged and willing to learn! Quickly after hygiene and sanitation lessons, a six-person Water Committee was established and trained to maintain the well and help manage its’ water resources! The goal of the Water Committee and Mariatu's Hope is to ensure safe drinking water is accessible for years to come!

Though there is no local church, the gospel was still shared with community families! We have partnered with Mariatu's Hope to support church planting movements in the area. During the construction of the water point, the team capitalized on all opportunities to share the good news through the provision of safe water!

Hygiene Promotion

Holding large hygiene training sessions in large numbers proved to be a difficult task for the Sierra Leone team, because of the Ebola outbreak. The local police were informed to stop large gatherings, as the deadly virus continues to scar the country. Our partner's primary focus, during hygiene and sanitation lessons, was to inform the people about Ebola by showing them proper hand washing techniques and how to construct tippy taps. Lessons on disease transmission, healthy and unhealthy communities, proper hand washing techniques and water saving methods were also addressed, and from there, each person was asked to share what they learned with at least three other people. Using the Ebola storying lesson, the team was able to incorporate the importance of good hand washing, disease transmission and how to prevent Ebola. There were 68 people in attendance that understood and agreed to pass along life-saving hygiene practices in the community and surrounding area.

Community Member Interview

"I am very glad for the new pump," shared 60-year-old community member, Chief Pa Adikalie. "This well has given us a lot of good use, but when the pump isn't functioning properly, we have to go to the waterside. This will help us a lot. Thank you very much!"

Project Updates


July, 2018: Continued Work at Shyllon Street

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 of 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 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.


I am very glad for the new pump. This well has given us a lot of good use, but when the pump isn’t functioning properly, we have to go to the waterside. This will help us a lot. Thank you very much!

Pa Adikalie - Community Chief