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, "This was such a beautiful community. There was such unity and everyone looked out for each other. It was most memorable the new hand pump and seeing the joy that came from the people having clean water inside Jesus' name."

When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a water source located two kilometers away from the community and unable to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community's practice of informal defecation, families were suffering from dysentery, typhoid, malaria, respiratory illnesses, diarrhea and severe dehydration. During the team's stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of four men and four women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided any materials they had available and made food for the team. Most community members
earn a living by petty trading, tapping palm wine, producing palm oil, gardening and fishing. The nearest school is located .03 kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided Chief Santigie Kamara, with a contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.

The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with forty-five year old community member and trader, Isata Kelleh, who stated, "The water from the stream is far away from the village and it has a lot of germs. Some wash laundry on the up side and then they use the water for their drinking. This well with the new hand pump is the better one. It is safe for drinking and free from germs. It is pure and sweet for drinking because it has been chlorinated."

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.

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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


49 individual donors
Mrs. Kimball's Advisory @ Kennebunk High School
Hoyt-O'Brien Wedding
Colbert crew PB pool
Designer Jewelry Ltd.
Francis Parker Girl Scout Troop 3006
Singapore American School
Byrd Elementary School
Amy Dohr
The Garage Knights
Buffalo for Africa
Designer Jewelry Ltd Inc
Artform International Limited
The Project's Fundraising Page