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 community member shared with the team and stated, "The rehabilitation of the well makes life simple and easy to us. The hygiene teaching helps train us to build a new life in our community."

When the Sierra Leone team arrived, community members were utilizing an unprotected hand dug well located two kilometers away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community's practice of open defecation families were left suffering from cholera, dysentery, typhoid, malaria, respiratory and other preventable water related illnesses. During the team's stay community members assisted the team with the water project, made food for the team, provided any available materials such as sand and stone, and provided security over the water project during the night. Most of the community members depend on fishing, farming and petty trading for their livelihood. The nearest school is located two kilometers away from the community and now students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to safe, clean drinking water. Before leaving the community, the Sierra Leone team provided community member Foday Kamara with a contact number in case the well were to fall into disrepair.

The Sierra Leone team had the opportunity to meet with forty year old, farmer Yakai Kamara, who stated. "The old water source was dirty. You could see things floating in the water. The well being rehabilitated and the new hand pump will make life simple and easy for us. That with the hygiene training will help us build a new community. For that, I'm thankful."

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


October, 2018: Continued Work in Conakry Dee

The initial project at this school (seen in the reporting found on this page) is a display of our shared commitment to helping them access water. 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 higher yield aquifer. This work will ensure that clean water is accessible here year round. To see that work, click here.





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

Anyela Duque and Friends