Bumangale Nursery School and Community Well

After more than a year of delays and setbacks, the team is back at work in Bumangale.

The first attempt at this project was not able to be completed by the original drill team.  They were replaced and we have re-invested in this project to see it through to completion.  Among other issues, the site sits above a hard rock formation that required a drilling contractor with a more powerful rig to be hired.

The Bumangale project serves the nursery school pictured below and the surrounding community.  While it is unfortunate that due to the initial troubles this project nearly doubled in cost, the outcome is just as valuable. 

Together with the original donors to this project, were thankful for all of you who make this work possible - and help us ensure we get it done right.

Our implementing partner noted this story in their report...

"The picture below shows a child during the base line survey [conducted to help measure outcomes]. The child claims that he has not been bathing for a long period of time. The child said that the reason is because the river is very far and [he] cannot walk that long distance looking for water. The health of the child is very bad and dangerous. Looking at the child, the skin produces a dirty black and smelling stain. On asking the child what should be done to help him, he said that if water was available and at a close distance, then he would resolve to bathe. This is an example of the several children who have the same problem."

Change is coming.

Original Donors Include:

St. John the Baptist Church – Hillsdale, NJ
St. Peter’s Parish School – San Francisco, CA
Thomas Stone High School – Waldorf, MD
Downingtown Area School District – Downingtown, PA
St. Joe’s Middle School – Appleton, WI
North Woods Elementary – La Crosse, WI
Warwick High School – Newport News, VA
Vivian United Methodist Church – Vivian, LA
Preston First Church of God Youth – Owingsville, KY

Latest Update:

12/10/2010 - Water!  The pump has been installed and the well is flowing.  Community dedications and final reporting will follow.  Pictures added below.

12/14/2010 -Our implementing partner filed this report from the handing over ceremony (unedited):

"The ceremony was attended by the school nursery pupils together with some community members accompanied by BRIDGE WATER PROJECT Staff.

On arrival of the bridge water staff, the nursery school pupils had already arrived singing traditional songs that aired the message of thanks giving and ownership.
As the ceremony begun, all the participants were waiting eagerly to hear what the bridge water staff had to say in line with the ceremony.

Many gave out there speech inclusive of the nursery school teacher. The teacher expressed her joy as could be seen on her face. She narrated of how her kids used to suffer looking for water from a far distance hence wasted a lot of time and energy. She said that the cook also had hard time to fetch water for preparing porridge. She thanked the water project in conjunction with bridge water project for having put together their efforts of providing water to their school. She promised a better performance of the school.

One of the community members expressed his gratitude’s when he said that the provision of water to his community was the end of waterborne diseases like diarrhea and typhoid. He said that the young kids will now enjoy bathing since water is now available.

The Bridge water staff finally handed over the water project to the school and community and reminded the committee about maintenance and operation cost.

The ceremony finally ended up well with full of shouts and celebrations."

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Project Photos