Lungi, Masoila, #3 Kamara St.
Project Snapshot
Country: Sierra Leone
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude 8.610733
Longitude -13.188933
Impact:
Total Served: 1500
Status: Completed (?)
Completion Date (or estimate): 05/06/2010
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The well rehab is located in the Port Loko district of Sierra Leone. Their well was open well and it was in major disrepair. The team sealed it up, a base was replaced, an apron was built and installed a new Afridev pump. Most people in the community earn a living through petty trading, small businesses and teaching. The community helped the team with project by providing materials, labor and security. When the project was complete, the community established a point person to be the caretaker of the well. The transformation has already begun to take place in this community. The community leaders are so happy for the development and were so willing to work with the team.
Testimony from a community member:
Alhaji Fohad, 75 year old spoke with the team about the water needs for the community. “There is a great difference between the open well and the well with the hand pump. The water didn’t taste pure before. I’m looking forward to tasting it now!! I’m gladdy too much for this development! Please tell the donor thank you”.
Though this community is a very strong muslim community, they were very kind to us and were very willing to listen and participate in the hygiene training and rolled up their sleeves to pitch in helping to build the apron. The team loves what God is doing in the midst of this community. They are very very thankful for the development of a sealed up well and a new hand pump. They gathered with the teams before they began working on the open well and before they began installing the hand pump. The Gospel was presented at the dedication and songs of rejoicing could be heard throughout the community.
Hygiene Training:
There was incredible attendance at this hygiene training and well rehabilitation. There were 61 adults and more than 100 children who attended the training, while at least 30 men were around the well. This was an initial hygiene training for this community. The team is going to meet privately with the chief, shek, headman, chairwoman and elders to discuss some small steps to address some of the majority hygiene deficiencies in this community. They were very receptive to the offer. 60 ORS spoons were distributed.
Project Photos
Country Details
Sierra Leone
- Population: 9.7 Million
- Lacking clean water: 47%
- Below poverty line: 70%
- Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season; winter dry season
- Languages: English, Mende, Temne, Krio
- Ethnic Groups: 20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10%
- Life Expectancy: 48 years
- Infant Mortality Rate: 155 deaths per 1000 live births
Partner Profile
Living Water International
Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to help the church in North America be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving the poorest of the poor. 600 million people in the world live on less than $2 a day. 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water.
For all practical purposes, these statistics refer to the same people; around the world, communities are trapped in debilitating poverty because they constantly suffer from water-related diseases and parasites, and/or because they spend long stretches of their time carrying water over long distances.
In response to this need, we implement participatory, community-based water solutions in developing countries. Since we started, we’ve completed water projects for 7,000 communities in 26 countries.
It all began in 1990, when a group from Houston, Texas traveled to Kenya and saw the desperate need for clean drinking water. They returned to Houston and founded a 501(c)3 non-profit. The fledgling organization equipped and trained a team of Kenyan drillers, and LWI Kenya began operations the next year under the direction of a national board.
That pattern continues today; we train, consult, and equip local people to implement solutions in their own countries.
Remembering the life-changing nature of that first trip in 1990, we also lead hundreds of volunteers on mission trips each year, working with local communities, under the leadership of nationals, to implement water projects. It’s hard to know which lives are changed more—those “serving” or those “being served.”
Our training programs in shallow well drilling, pump repair, and hygiene education have equipped thousands of volunteers and professionals in the basics of integrated water solutions since 1997.
