Conclusion of Lower Saloum District Rehab Tour Phase-2 – The Gambia

Conclusion of Lower Saloum District Rehab Tour Phase-2 – The Gambia

The Lower Saloum of the Central River Region is one of the poorest regions in The Gambia. Most people in the villages of Lower Saloum are engaged in subsistence farming – there is a recognized ‘hungry season’ when food is scarce but agricultural labour is most intense. There are serious environmental and ecological vulnerabilities, especially with increasing desertification. Lower Saloum is home to Kaur, one of the market towns of Lower Saloum, which once had a groundnut processing plant and associated export trade via the Gambia River, but this ceased over a decade ago. Lower Saloum is home to mangroves, which are found at the land-sea interface in tropical regions and provide a considerable range of ecosystem goods and services. Mangrove ecosystems are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon in the soil, leaves, branches, roots, etc.

The second phase of this project has been successfully completed thanks to Water Charity and its local partner Working Water The Gambia (WWG). This is part of a series of projects launched under the Water for Everyone Initiative. The project mission was to improve water access and sanitation conditions across 10 villages in Lower Saloum District by rehabilitating handpumps, installing new ones where necessary, and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of Ballanghar Kerr Jibel Village, Tabaworo Nyukulum Village, Kerr Lien Village, Balangharr Jalato Nderry Village, Balangharr Kerr Majara Village, Gungurr Tukulor Village, Ballanghar Kerr Nderry Village and Simbara Khai Village, Budduck Village, Jimbala Felngo Village. Thanks to the collaborative support of the villagers in all these villages, the project was completed successfully. This project provides access to clean water and sanitation to over 9,000 people. 

Ballanghar Kerr Jibel Village

  • Jainaba is all smiles now that clean water is flowing in the community
  • That feeling of having clean drinking water again
  • 4 year old Houja is eager to learn how to do effective hand washing using the hand washing station
  • Heavy work in progress as the workers try to dismantle the rusty handpump
  • Dismantling old handpumps could be hard work at times, applying WD40 is a key ingredient for workers because these handpumps are old and rusty needing replacement of new ones
  • Dismantling the cylinder and other components as the temperature soars to 43 degrees Celsius
  • All hands on deck as the pipes are removed at the depth of 28 meters
  • Removing the old pipes to be replaced with non corrosive stainless steel pipes
  • The old water tank for the handpump
  • Work in progress

ACTIVITIES 

The project saw the successful dewatering, re-digging of wells, installation of new German Mark 2 cylinders and conversion heads, stainless steel pipes, rod couplings, check nuts, pedestals, axles, and bearings. Concrete water troughs were built, new culverts for wells and concrete slabs. Handwashing stations were installed in all project intervention communities supplied with detergents. In partnership with The Gambia’s Department of Water Resources, quality testing and treatment was also conducted at the end of each community project. In each community, learning sessions were held on effective handwashing techniques and simple water management strategies. Communities also participated in manual works like digging, collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured. 

The project successfully dewatered, re-digged the wells, installed new German Mark 2 cylinders and conversion heads, stainless steel pipes, rod couplings, check nuts, pedestals, axles and bearings. Concrete water troughs were built, new culverts for the wells and concrete slabs. Handwashing stations were installed in all project communities and supplied with detergents. In partnership with The Gambia’s Department of Water Resources, quality testing and treatment was also conducted at the end of each community project. Learning sessions on effective handwashing techniques and simple water management strategies were held in each community. The communities also participated in manual labour such as digging and collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers to ensure that all materials were secured.

Tabaworo Nyukulum Village

  • Children always suffer the most in water crisis, this is why they are always the first to jubilate when the water project is concluded
  • Head of the village urging for his community to be using the hand washing stations and keep healthy hygiene in the community
  • All hands on deck as works proceed
  • Dismantling the handpump before removing the concrete slab for dewatering process
  • Removing the components of the handpump step by step to be replaced with new ones
  • Some of the old components of the handpump being removed

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 

The primary objective of this project is to provide safe drinking water and improved sanitation to the people of the 10 selected villages in the Lower Saloum District, as in the second phase of the project. This was successfully achieved at the end of the project.

  • The Lower Saloum region has long suffered from a lack of safe drinking water. The region has been hit hard by overgrazing and poor farming techniques that have made much of the land inaccessible, as well as frequent bushfires. One of the aims of the project is to alleviate the pressure of the lack of clean drinking water in the communities and to provide sanitation.
  • One of the objectives of this project is to provide safe drinking water to marginalised vulnerable communities such as the Fana Fana tribesmen and some of the Fulani herdsmen in the district. Lower Saloum has many isolated villages that feel abandoned and forgotten. This project has made them feel heard, socially included and part of humanity.
  • It also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden that women and girls carry in collecting water. The Lower Saloum has a high illiteracy rate, especially among the Fana Fana tribe. They are known for early marriage. This clean water project will enable girls to attend school and discourage families from the early marriage of girls. The time spent fetching water is now much shorter for girls in school. This is a boost to girls’ participation in the school curriculum.
  • Another important objective of the project is to inculcate the habit of handwashing in the communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a handwashing station is provided with detergent and a learning session on effective handwashing techniques. Community members gathered in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that can spread within communities, especially after using toilets. It also helps breastfeeding mothers and children understand the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Participation in the learning sessions was high. Community engagement was immense and enthusiastic.
  • Several communities in Lower Saloum still practice open defecation. This is a concern as stakeholders are working towards zero open defecation in the country, in line with SDG 6.2 on sanitation and hygiene. Another key objective of these water projects is to facilitate 24-hour household access to water. This will discourage people from going outside to defecate. Household access to water is a catalyst for ending open defecation.
  • Another objective of these projects is to encourage women’s involvement in horticulture at the household level. Each rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The trough collects wastewater from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale horticultural gardening. This avoids wasting water and allows households to grow vegetables and provide water for their livestock. This helps to provide households with a balanced diet, alleviating the extreme poverty faced by the communities, especially during the dry season.
  • The main objective of this project is to reduce the high rate of water-borne diseases in the beneficiary communities. Children often bear the brunt of waterborne diseases. Some households are deprived of all resources when waterborne diseases strike a family. These water projects reduce the burden on communities, and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can be spent on food or girls’ education. This has helped to reduce poverty in the Lower Saloum within the Central River Region.
  • The establishment and training of village water management committees was another objective of the project. We established and trained water management committees in all project communities. They help with the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This helps to make the project sustainable. As a best practice, we ensure that the committee is gender balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Traditional Wollof women communicators, known as ‘guewel’, are widespread in the Lower Saloum district. They disseminate information at the local grassroots level. This is a powerful tool for us to achieve our goals and the successful completion of this project. They are also involved in sensitizing communities for better water management.

Kerr Lien Village

  • Singing and dancing and happiness is the order of the day in the whole community when water starts flowing
  • Everyone wants to have the first sip of the water soon as the project gets completed
  • Jainaba showing how to do the clean hand washing
  • Women and girls are always vulnerable to various sanitation health crisis. Encouraging them to practice effective hand washing is essential for their health and well-being
  • Members of various households in the community mobilize to learn the techniques of effective handwashing
  • Work in progress
  • Dismantling of the handpump begins
  • Men at work
  • 71 year old Wuday walks long distances to nearby villages searching for water even though she suffers from respitarory illness. I am in huge relief now she says. Thank You Water Charity

BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL 

The excitement and happiness are overwhelming in all the communities. Heads of villages and cultural leaders of the respective 10 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives.

Mr Sabaha Touray is among the most excited and happy beneficiaries. Our gratitude towards Water Charity is inexplicable because they have relieved us from huge water crisis which we have been suffering for a long time. We have long been crying for clean drinking water and all of a sudden Water Charity became our savior, he said. This has melted our hearts with joy. All we can say is thank you and keep praying for them to continue doing these amazing works for humanity. Our happiness cannot be all said. We always praying for their progress and we are saying ‘’Jere jeff’’ (Thank You). Similar sentiments were shared by hundreds of people across the project intervention communities. The lack of water has ruined our lives, said Ganghi Ndoho another village leader. Almost daily someone must fell sick within the households in the community due to lack of clean drinking water. This clean water project is overwhelmingly happiness for us. All we can say is a BIG thank you to Water Charity and God bless them.

Jelleh Sallah dilated on some of the ordeals they had to go through in search of clean drinking water for their families. I remember there was a day when we went out to neighboring villages looking for water, she said. On our way, in the woods the rain caught us and a bad storm with thunder lightning struck some of us. Many of us got serious injuries and some got seriously sick. The trauma still stays with us. We are truly happy and grateful with Water Charity for coming to our rescue. This water project is very important for us. We will forever be grateful to Water Charity; they save our lives.

The lady ward councilor of the area Mrs. Fanta Touray also expressed her thanks and gratitude for the water projects. This is joyous celebration time she said. We now have clean drinking water in our communities thanks to Water Charity.

The traditional Chief of the district Ali J. Touray, along with other cultural leaders all emphasized the importance of this project, saying the power of clean drinking water unifies tribes and clans. This project will solidify brotherliness and more understanding among ourselves, they said. They also urged village water committee members to wholeheartedly strive to take good care of the water sources. Thanks to the donors for making this project a success. 

Balangharr Jalato Nderry Village

  • Its all about happiness and joy in the village. They now have clean drinking water
  • Finally there is clean drinking water available for the community. Celebrations have began
  • Learning sessions about sanitation and water management issues
  • Absolutely delightful people
  • Effective hand washing techniques in communities is tremendously emphasized
  • Learning sessions about sanitation and water management issues
  • Water splashing as works proceed to the delight of the community
  • Work in progress
  • This is the house of the head of the village. He welcomed the workers in a humble and very welcoming way
  • The community came out in numbers to help in any way they could
  • Members of the community eagerly waiting for water. They have long suffered due to lack of water
  • Men at work
  • Mounting the new cylinder
  • Children coming from school
  • Arranging the stainless steel pipes
  • Head of the village Mr Gangi Ndoho expressing his gratitude and thanks for the project. He nearly shed tears of joy as he speaks

Balangharr Kerr Majara Village

  • As always when clean water starts flowing, children are the first to feel the happiness and joy
  • Clean water is everything. The happiness is overwhelming for the community
  • eaching and learning sessions on effective clean hand washing techniques is very essential part of our water projects for improved sanitation and well being of communities
  • Effective hand washing techniques in communities is tremendously emphasized
  • The dismantling of the entire handpump and other works in progress
  • Naffie and her sister Oulay can now start a nursery bed to grow tomatoes for her home by collecting excess water trapped from the water trough. This helps to provide food for the family
  • In scourchig heat they share ideas as they forge ahead with the work
  • Mr Sabaha Touray is the head of the village. He is delighted about the water project now his community can live happily they have clean drinking water
  • As visible this water source is very badly damaged and it has not been serving the community for many years. The men get to work to bring back clean drinking water for this community
  • They no longer travel 4 kilometers daily to collect water. This water project has made life easier for them

Gungurr Tukulor Village

  • Happy villagers. They now have clean drinking water
  • Its all smiles and cheers of joy when water starts flowing in the community. The mind becomes fresh and the body becomes alive again. Thanks to Water Charity
  • Teaching and learning sessions on effective clean hand washing techniques is very essential part of our water projects for improved sanitation and well being of communities
  • Clean hands are safe hands. We always encourage communities to practise effective hand washing
  • Learning how to do the mixture of detergents for the hand washing station
  • Removing the water tank of the handpump as the dismantling of the pump continues
  • Dismantling the hand pump in progress
  • Dismantling the handpump
  • Work in progress

Ballanghar Kerr Nderry Village

  • Mrs Sainabou is the senior women’s head in the village.
  • That joy of having the first sip of water after the completion of works
  • Head of the village demonstrating the effective hand washing technique he learned.
  • Jouma says she is overwhelmingly happy with the completion of this clean water project in her community. Water is life, Thanks for giving us life she says
  • Jaha is a 7 months pregnant. She had to bear the brunt of travellling miles daily collecting water. Now she is full of joy with the completion of this clean water project
  • Dismantling the handpump as works proceed
  • Removing the old cylinder
  • Villagers come to support works while the lady councellor and the head of the village looks on
  • Work in progress

Simbara Khai Village

  • Water is finally flowing in the community
  • Head of the village Habisa Ngum is demonstrating how to do the effective clean handwashing
  • Getting the first drums of water is always exciting
  • Its joyous washing hands keeping it clean and safe from contamination
  • Fresh water for the community
  • Villagers offering their support to workers
  • Dismantling of the hand pump in progress.
  • Power and focus is always needed in the work. Rusty materials have to be removed or cut by hacksaw as necessary for the dismantling process to proceed
  • Men at work

Budduck Village

  • Finally clean drinking water is flowing for the community
  • Dismantling the handpump
  • Opening the well’s concrete slab to start dewatering
  • Removing the old rusty sylinder filled with mud as a result of the collapsed walls of the well
  • Removing the pipes to be replaced with stainless steel ones
  • Work in progress
  • Works proceed as the men inspect the walls of well

Jimbala Felngo Village

  • The rush for the tasty water after works have been completely
  • Absa Gaye is a woman leader for the village womens.She remains committed to encouraging her fellow women and their families to practise effective hand washing
  • Clean drinking water makes them jump up their feet with happiness and all smiles
  • That feeling of joy
  • Chain removal and rusty iron rods
  • Villagers anxiously and eagerly waiting for thr first drops of water. They look worried while the hard work gets on
  • Some members of the community on guard while the workers take a break from the hot sun
  • Haddy Touray is a traditional birth attendant in the community. This water project will help us do safe deliveries. We used to have difficulties to do deliveries due to lack of water, she says

To see project-related videos, CLICK HERE. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.