Newton Curve Community
Project Snapshot
Country: Sierra Leone
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude 8.335167
Longitude -13.000700
Impact:
Total Served: 200
Status: Completed (?)
Completion Date (or estimate): 04/06/2010
Share this Project
General Information
The community of Newton, Curve community is located in the Koya Rural region of Sierra Leone. The pump on this well was stolen in October of 2008. The community was using the stream for their water source which was approximately two kilometers away. Most people in the community earn a living through gardening and petty trading. The community helped out with the project by providing materials and labor. When the project was complete, the community established a point person to be the caretaker of the well.
Testimony from a community member
Abraham Koroma, 22 year old teacher spoke with the team about the water needs for his community. “This is just so beautiful. We arrived here so thirsty and didn’t realize the pump had been replace. We were all so thankful to see that there was water here. It gives the children more energy. Last year, people were selling dirty water in plastic bags. Thank God”.
The people of the community are so thankful to have their water source back. The children were expressing their thanks as well. The school that was practicing for sports day gave thanks to God.
Hygiene Teaching
Twenty-three adults attended the hygiene training and 23 ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) spoons were distributed. In addition, the team talked about the importance of an open defecation free community. Ideas were give on how to construct native toilets. Of the 23 who attended, four of them don’t have a toilet. The community were encouraged to work together to help these four build a simple native toilet at their home. Other lessons included: proper hand washing, proper care of the pump, keeping the water clean and healthy and unhealthy communities.
Project Photos
Sponsors
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.
