Conclusion Report For Kiang Central District Handpump Repair Tour Phase-2 – The Gambia

Conclusion Report For Kiang Central District Handpump Repair Tour Phase-2 – The Gambia

Disaster Relief, Water For Everyone, Water For Everyone - The Gambia

Conclusion Report For Kiang Central District Handpump Repair Tour Phase-2 – The Gambia

Kiang Central is one of the six districts of the Lower River Region of the Gambia. Along with Kiang East and Kiang West, it makes up the Kiang area.  In Kiang Central, as in most of The Gambia’s rural villages, most men farm rice, groundnuts, and millet. Most women garden for subsistence food needs, as well as work in the rice fields. Farming is the main source of income, with groundnuts being the main cash crop and rice the staple one. Most farmers use traditional, subsistence farming methods with little or no modern equipment, and the scant surplus of crops, if any, is usually sold for a small profit. 

The last few years of diminished rainfall means there is a lack of food to eat with no surplus to sell. These communities are close to the border with Cassamance, Senegal. The Cassamance side of the border is still forested; the Gambian side has been almost completely deforested. In times of poor harvest, these communities often cross the border to chop down trees to make into charcoal to be sold in the market in the capital city of Banjul. The deforestation of Cassamance is an environmental disaster. According to Global Forest Watch reports, between 13th of April 2020 and 10th of April 2023 Kiang Central experienced a total of 116 VIIRS Alerts fire alerts, 1.8kha of land has burned so far in 2022. the peak fire season typically begins in early January and lasts around 15 weeks. This has significantly contributed to the water scarcity of the district. 

In our recent GIS Mapping assessment, we found that most communities in Kiang Central District lack access to potable drinking water and tiny fraction of communities are still practicing open defecation. This coinciding with the lack of water makes the district hard to live and unbearable for communities.

BAMBAKO VILLAGE

OUTCOME

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 5 villages in Kiang Central District by rehabilitating handpumps, installing new ones where necessary, and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of BAMBAKO VILLAGE, JIROFF VILLAGE, KUNDONG NUMU KUNDA VILLAGE, TABANANI VILLAGE and WUROKANG 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 3,000 people.

JIROFF VILLAGE

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 and collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured.  

KUNDONG NUMU KUNDA VILLAGE

 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 

  • The primary objective of this project is to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation for the people of the selected 5 villages in Kiang Central District as for the second phase of the project. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project.
  • The Kiang area has long suffered from a lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard with mass felling of trees and frequent bushfires. Although it is home to one of the largest nature reserve parks but it is still hard to control people from damaging the flora and fauna of the area.
  • One of the objectives of this project is to provide clean drinking water for marginalized vulnerable communities. Kiang Central has a lot of isolated villages that feel abandoned and forgotten. These villages are often called ‘’Dumbokono’’ which is a derogatory word meaning inside the barrel, referring to the communities as people living inside a barrel. This project has made them feel heard, socially included, and a part of humanity. 
  • The project also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden women and girls bear in water collection. Although Kiang Central District has embraced education, but indications have shown they favor boys’ education more than girls. This clean water project will empower girls’ participation in school. The time spent on water collection is far shorter now for school-going girls. 
  • Another important objective of this project is to inculcate the habit of hand washing in communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a hand washing station is provided with detergents and also a learning session on the techniques of effective hand washing. Members of the community gather in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that could spread within communities, especially after using the toilets. It also aids nursing mothers as well as children to understand the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Participation in the learning sessions was high. Community engagement was immense and enthusiastic. 
  • In Kiang Central District, open defecation is not as big a concern as it is in other regions of the country. Nonetheless, another key objective of these water projects is to facilitate round-the-clock household access to water. This will steer people away from going outside to defecate. The availability of water in the households is a catalyst towards the cessation of open defecation. 
  • Another objective of these projects is to encourage women’s engagement in household-level horticulture gardening. Every rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The water trough traps wastewater from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale household horticulture vegetable gardening. This avoids the wastage of water and allows households to grow vegetables and enables their livestock to drink. This helps provide the households with a balanced diet and thereby alleviates the extreme poverty communities’ face, especially in the dry season. 
  • Another key objective of this project is to cut down the high rate of water-related illnesses in the recipient communities. Children often face the brunt when it comes to waterborne diseases. Certain households are drained of all resources when a family is struck with waterborne diseases. These water projects will lessen the burden on communities and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can be used for food or for girls’ education instead. The distances between villages and health centers are far away and road networks are poor. This project will improve the health, sanitation and hygiene of beneficiary communities 
  • Another objective of these projects is to combat the high rate of fires in communities which do not only destroy the environment but also destroy backyards and potential destruction of property which could lead to further destitution for families. The ample water supply will also encourage communities to plant trees to safeguard their surroundings and attract afforestation. 
  • Setting up and training village water management committees was another objective of the project. We set up and trained water management committees in all the project communities. They help in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This will help make the project sustainable. As best practice, we ensure the committee is gender-balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Traditional women communicators known as ‘’Kanyeleng’’ are also involved in the sensitization of communities for better water management. 

TABANANI VILLAGE

BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL  

It is very common when a person or a group of persons or communities receive such humanitarian activity, they become utterly dumbfounded or out of words due to happiness and excitement. This is typical in this part of the world. In such scenario, almost everyone expresses their happiness saying similar praises and chants. They become overwhelmed with happiness at times it is hard to put it all into words. However, the excitement and happiness are overwhelming in all the beneficiary communities. Heads of villages of the respective 5 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives.

Kalifa Kambi is the local councilor for district, he said lack of access to clean water is also deeply linked to poverty. Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices and educational opportunities within the district. This water project will greatly uplift our standard of living and also create greater inclusion. He thanks Water Charity for these great projects. Similar remarks were said by various community elders and social groups including the ‘’Musu Kambeng Kaffo’’ in Jiroff. We are hugely relieved now that we have abundant clean drinking water flowing in our communities said Famara Danjo, a social custodian of the Farandambo clan within the district. Water is life and Water Charity has given us life, he said. We no longer have to travel long distances searching for water said Jomma Gassama, a leading female activist in the district. Water is a universal human need and we are grateful to Water Charity for providing us these water projects. The traditional chief of the district Demba Sanyang also heaped praises and thanks to Water Charity for the water projects, especially also the hand washing stations which he said really helps the community to keep sanitation and the fight against Covid-19 and other diseases. He urged communities to take very good care of the water sources and urge for stronger bond of unity and peace among community members.

Thanks to the donors for making this project a success.

WUROKANG VILLAGE

This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

Conclusion Of Sabach Sanjal District Handpump Repair Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Conclusion Of Sabach Sanjal District Handpump Repair Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Disaster Relief, Water For Everyone

Conclusion Of Sabach Sanjal District Handpump Repair Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Jereh is happy now his daughter can go to school and learn because there is clean drinking water in the community thanks to this project

Sabach Sanjal is one of the seven districts of the North Bank Region of The Gambia. Its main town is Farafenni. The North Bank Region is now the Kerewan Local Government Area, and the former Upper Baddibu District is now divided into an Illiasa District and a Sabach Sanjal District. The district is home to Pakala Forest Park, a protected area in The Gambia covering 1,161 ha (2,870 acres). By and large, residents of Sabach Sanjal practice subsistence farming.  Their main occupations are farming, including crop cultivation, cattle rearing, and fishing. In our recent GIS Mapping assessment, we found that most communities in Sabach Sanjal district lack access to potable drinking water and some communities are still practicing open defecation. Sabach Sanjal’s border with Senegal on the north is porous thus paving the way for cattle rustling and other crimes inflicted on poor farmers. This coinciding with the lack of water makes the district hard to live and unbearable for communities. This has prompted many young men and women from the district into rural-urban migration and also engaging in the deadly voyage through the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean in search for a better life, where they are often abused.

To see project-related videos, Click Here.

The first 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 5 villages in Sabach Sanjal District by rehabilitating handpumps, installing new ones where necessary, and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of Daffa Village, Jambaya Village, Kungo Village, Kunjata Village, Tambakoto 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 4,000 people. 

Daffa Village

  • The collective bond of happiness when clean water flows
  • Working in the hot sun of 42 degrees celcius could be a challenge at times for the workers. Nonetheless, they strive hard to do it
  • Ensuring the professionalism and quality of works is at the fore front of the water projects
  • Removing the concrete slab for dewatering and well sanitization
  • Removing the old cylinder
  • Removing the pedestal of the old hand pump
  • Work on going
  • Work in progress
  • Ttraditionally made jars locally called ”Jibinda” is common for water preservation in the household, just like a refrigerator is
  • The open well which the community depended on and it caused them severe illness

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, and collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured. 

Jambaya Village

  • Head of the village astonished with the fact that his village now has clean drinking water
  • Finally clean water is flowing for the community, children celebrating
  • Steadily dismantling the pieces of the hand pump seperately
  • Removing the corroded iron parts to be replaced with stainless steel ones
  • Within minutes, the community has mobilized men to start clearing the area for the start of the water project smoothly
  • This contaminated well was used by the village as a drinking source prior to our water project

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The primary objective of this project is to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation for the people of the selected 5 villages in the Sabach Sanjal District as for the first phase of the project. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project. 

  • Sabach Sanjal region has long suffered from the lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard with overgrazing and poor farming techniques that made a lot of farmlands inarable as well as frequent bushfires. One of the objectives of the project is to ease the pressure of the lack of clean drinking water in communities, as well as provide sanitation. 
  •  Another important objective of this project is to inculcate the habit of hand washing in communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a hand washing station is provided with detergents and also a learning session on the techniques of effective hand washing. Members of the community gather in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that could spread within communities especially after using the toilets. It also aids nursing mothers as well as children to understand the importance of hygiene and sanitation. Participation in the learning sessions was high. Community engagement was immense and enthusiastic. 
  • One of the objectives of this project is to provide clean drinking water for marginalized vulnerable communities like the Fana Fana tribesmen and some of the Fulani herdsmen within the district.
  • The project also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden women and girls bear in water collection. Sabach Sanjal is another district that is far behind in terms of education and literacy rate, especially within the Fana Fana tribe. They are well known for engaging in early marriage. This clean water project will empower girls’ participation in school and discourage families from the early marriage of girls. The time spent on water collection is far shorter now for school-going girls. This is a boost for girls’ participation in the school curriculum, especially in the villages of  Daffa and Kungo.
  • Another objective of these projects is to encourage women’s engagement in household-level horticulture gardening. Every rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The water trough traps wastewater from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale household horticulture vegetable gardening. This avoids the wastage of water and allows households to grow vegetables and enables their livestock to drink. This helps provide the households with a balanced diet and thereby alleviates the extreme poverty communities face, especially in the dry season. 
  • The key objective of this project is to cut down the high rate of water-related illnesses in the recipient communities. Children often face the brunt when it comes to waterborne diseases. Certain households are drained of all resources when a family is struck with waterborne diseases. These water projects will lessen the burden on communities and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can be used for food or for girls’ education instead. 
  • Another key objective of this project is to ensure ample clean drinking water for communities in order to discourage young men and women from leaving their communities, taking the deadly voyage through the Sahara Desert towards the Mediterranean, where they are often abused and some lost their lives on these perilous journeys. The project will also remedy the massive rural-urban drift which is primarily caused by the lack of water in communities.
  • Setting up and training village water management committees was another objective of the project. We set up and trained water management committees in all the project communities. They help in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This will help make the project sustainable. As a best practice, we ensure the committee is gender-balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Since Sabach Sanjal District is also another district dominated by the Wollof Fana Fana tribe, we engaged traditional Wollof women communicators known as ‘’Guewel’’. They disseminate information through the local grassroots level in their mother tongue, which made our work much easier. This is a powerful tool for us to achieve our aims and the successful conclusion of this project. They are also involved in the sensitization of communities for better water management.

Kungo Village

  • Mother and son collecting clean drinking water easily
  • Clean drinking water flowing to the delight of the community
  • The rush and happiness when news broke into the village that workers have arrived to provide clean drinking water for them
  • The hurry to fetch water after the project is completed
  • Children anxiously look on while work is in progress, hoping to be the first to taste the water when the project is completed
  • Dismantling the hand pump and all corroded parts
  • They want to wait to have water
  • Workers resting to have lunch and some tea
  • Work in Progress

BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL

The excitement and happiness are overwhelming in all the communities. Heads of villages and cultural leaders of the respective 5 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives.

Ebou Gaye the local councilor of the district, expressed his praises on and thanks to Water Charity. He also mentioned the social and economic importance of the water projects, as well as the tremendous importance of clean drinking water for the communities, especially in relation to the provision of education and the increased well-being. He also mentioned the importance and timeliness of the project. Some communities were severely threatened with abandonment due to the lack of water. He further encouraged the community to take very good care of the rehabilitated water sources. Similar remarks were made by Hincha Gaye, a student of grade 6. My mother used to wake me up at 4AM in order to go to nearby villages searching for water in that early morning darkness. Most of the times we heard the sounds of wild animals like hyenas and foxes which is very scary. I carry that trauma with me to school she said. Now I can study very well in school because we now have clean drinking water in our village thanks to Water Charity.

Oumie Lowe, head of the cultural women group called the “guelwel Samba Naar’’ also gave thanks for the water projects, saying this will make their families healthier and their living conditions better. It will also help us to send girls to school she said. Other community leaders of the beneficiary villages expressed their thanks and gratitude for the clean water projects. They emphasized the importance of these water projects, saying it will promote greater understanding and goodwill among the various tribes within the community. I haven’t washed my clothes and my children’s clothes for the past few days due to lack of water said Amie Samba a mother of 4. It has been so tough for us, but now we can keep our heads high thanks to Water Charity. This project has given us life and we are forever grateful she said.

Ousman Gaye a representative of the family of the late traditional chief, Mr. Sait Gaye, along with other cultural leaders all emphasized the importance of this project, saying the power of clean drinking water unifies villages and helps fight poverty which their district is severely facing. 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.

Kunjata Village

  • Clean hand washing is important no matter the time day or night
  • clean drinking water flowing in the community making Musunding very happy
  • The determination to carry on working even when the sun sets
  • It is almost sunset but the team is determined to carry one working here and complete it with the urgency of water in the village

Tambakoto Village

  • Finally clean drinking water for the community
  • Hand washing station for communities to practise effective handwashing techniques
  • Hand work in progress
  • The community participation is great, donkey carts were used to transport cement and gravel
  • Removing the old broken cylinder
  • Removing the completely bad and rusty hand pump
  • Removing the concrete slab for de-watering and sanitizing the well prior to dismantling of the entire handpump
  • Work in progress

This project has been completed. To see the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

Conclusion Of Lower Saloum District Rehab Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Conclusion Of Lower Saloum District Rehab Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Disaster Relief, Water For Everyone, Water For Everyone - The Gambia

Conclusion Of Lower Saloum District Rehab Tour Phase 1 – The Gambia

Three year old Awa having a taste of the clean drinking water

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

Mrs. Aida Saine, head of the cultural women group called the “guelwel Balanghar’’ also gave thanks for the district water projects, saying this will give girls more time for their educations as the hours spent on searching for water would be utilized at school and study. Lower Saloum is a well-known district for its traditional and culture especially for the Wollof, Fana Fana tribesmen. Other community leaders of the beneficiary villages expressed their thanks and gratitude for the clean water projects. They emphasized the importance of these water projects, saying it will promote greater understanding and good will among the various tribes within the community. 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.

The first 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 8 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 Balanghar Njoben Village, Geinge Wollof Village, Kerr Kossa Village, Kerr Sam Boye Village, Manjakharr Village, Nawell Village, Njoben Samba Narr Village and Ngike 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 7,500 people.

Balanghar Njoben Village

  • All smiles when water begins flowing in the community
  • Bukar is a local blacksmith. He is tremendously delightful with the handwashing station for the village
  • Children practising clean hand washing techniques
  • Offering of prayers after the completion of works
  • Dismantling the handpump
  • Work in progress

ACTIVITIES 

The project saw the successful dewatering, re-digging of wells, and installation of new German Mark 2 cylinders and conversion heads, stainless steel pipes, rod couplings, check nuts, pedestals, axle and bearings. Concrete water troughs were built, and new culverts for wells and concrete slabs were. 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 were 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 work like digging and collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured.

Geinge Wollof Village

  • The urgency for clean drinking water is clear. Aminata is excited with the water project in the village
  • Teaching children and other members of the community the practice of clean hand washing techniques
  • I used to take my donkey to travel 4 miles daily seraching for water says Kebba. Now we have water in the village am happy
  • Faama is now relaxing and feeling happy now she does’nt have to travel miles just to get water.
  • Marget is in grade 7, she’s happy with the water project, now she can comfortably wash her school uniforms
  • It was hard removing the pedestal from the concrete base, but with all hands on deck, everything went well
  • Mixing the gravel with cement for concrete base
  • Removing the conversion head
  • Removing the pedestal of the old handpump
  • The community contributed their labor which helped the timely completion of the project
  • Work ongoing while the head of the village and his men look on
  • Houses are usually left empty in the day time as everyone goes out searching for water
  • This is an abandoned pitt latrine due to lack of water a lot of people in the community take on to the bush to defacate
  • This is the house of the village head. He also goes on a search for water walking miles daily to nearby villages searching for water

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT 

The primary objective of this project is to provide clean drinking water and better sanitation for the people of the selected 8 villages in the Lower Saloum District as for the first phase of the project. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project. 

  • Lower Saloum region has long suffered from the lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard with overgrazing and poor farming techniques that made a lot of farmlands inarable as well as frequent bush fires. One of the objectives of the project is to ease the pressure of the lack of clean drinking water in communities, as well as provide sanitation. 
  • One of the objectives of this project is to provide clean drinking water for marginalized vulnerable communities like the Fana Fana tribesmen and some of the Fulani herdsmen within the district. Lower Saloum has a lot of isolated villages that feel abandoned and forgotten. This project has made them feel heard, socially included, and a part of humanity. 
  • The project also empowers women and girls. We all know the burden women and girls bear in water collection. Lower Saloum is far behind in the illiteracy rate, especially within the Fana Fana tribe. They are well known for engaging in early marriage. This clean water project will empower girls’ participation in school and discourage families from the early marriage of girls. The time spent on water collection is far shorter now for school-going girls. This is a boost for girls’ participation in the school curriculum.
  • Another important objective of this project is to inculcate the habit of hand washing in communities. At each of the rehabilitated water sources in each community, a hand washing station is provided with detergents and also a learning session on the techniques of effective hand washing. Members of the community gather in the village square for the learning sessions. This is a tool to combat the spread of germs and other communicable diseases that could spread within communities especially after using the toilets. It also aids nursing mothers as well as children to 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 District still practice open defecation. It is a matter of concern as stakeholders works towards zero open defecation in the country in line with SDG 6.2 Sanitation and Hygiene. Another key objective of these water projects is to facilitate round-the-clock household access to water. This will steer people away from going outside to defecate. The availability of water in the households is a catalyst towards the cessation of open defecation. 
  • Another objective of these projects is to encourage women’s engagement in household-level horticulture gardening. Every rehabilitated water source includes a concrete watering trough. The water trough traps wastewater from the hand pump and can be used by nearby houses for small-scale household horticulture vegetable gardening. This avoids the wastage of water and allows households to grow vegetables and enables their livestock to drink. This helps provide the households with a balanced diet and thereby alleviates the extreme poverty communities face especially in the dry season. 
  • Key objective of this project is to cut down the high rate of water-related illnesses in the recipient communities. Children often face the brunt when it comes to waterborne diseases. Certain households are drained of all resources when a family is struck with waterborne diseases. These water projects will lessen the burden on communities and money that would otherwise be spent on doctors or medicine can be used for food or for girls’ education instead. This has contributed to the poverty rate of Lower Saloum within the Central River Region.
  • Setting up and training village water management committees was another objective of the project. We set up and trained water management committees in all the project communities. They help in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the water source. This will help make the project sustainable. As a best practice, we ensure the committee is gender-balanced and that women have a say in the maintenance and management of the water source. Traditional Wollof women communicators are common within Lower Saloum District known as ‘’Guewel’’. They disseminate information through the local grassroots level. This is a powerful tool for us to achieve our aims and the successful conclusion of this project. They are also involved in the sensitization of communities for better water management.

Kerr Kossa Village

  • Finally clean drinking water for the community and delight is felt everywhere
  • Grandma is delighted to have a taste of the water after the completion of the water project
  • Children are always in the forefront of happiness when clean water starts flowing in the village
  • Binta and her sister Tida are excited to practise the effective hand washing using the hand washing station provided
  • As it is for any of the water projects, the community gathers together to learn bits about water management and clean hand washing issues
  • Young mothers are alsoexcited to do the effective hand washing
  • Teaching villagers the habit of effective hand washing techniques is instrumental to curb certain contaminations and cross infections
  • Mounting the conversion head
  • Removing the bad corroded cylinder and rod couplings as well as centralizers
  • Removing the concrete slab preparing for de-watering and sanitizing the well
  • The community also offer their contribution to the project by supporting the workers with manual labor
  • Workers inspecting the well before comencing any works

BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL 

The excitement and happiness are overwhelming in all the communities. Heads of villages and cultural leaders of the respective 8 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives. Seedy Mbaye, the local councilor of the district, heaped praises on and thanks to Water Charity. He also mentioned the social and economic importance of the water projects, as well as the tremendous importance of clean drinking water for the communities, especially in relation to the provision of education and increased well-being. He also mentioned the importance and timeliness of the project. Some communities were severely threatened with abandonment due to the lack of water.

Ousman Faye Alkalo of Sancha Pallen Village cried over the challenges faced by people in his community to access clean drinking water. This he added is now a thing of the past, thanks to the invention of Water Charity. We can now breathe nicely and have a peace of mind, he said.  Anha Jallow, a community leader described water as one of the most important necessities of life. Without water, he added health and sanitation cannot be sustained. In a community, without water, there’s no cleanliness we want to have water and when you have water you can drink and do washing as well as fetch water and take Bath so water is part of cleanliness. We are very happy with this water project. We say a big thanks to Water Charity.

Pullo Njie a beneficiary in Nawell Village, described the intervention as crucial saying the importance of a reliable source of water cannot be over-emphasized. When we don’t have clean drinking water our livestock cannot drink water as well. With this water project, we can drink from there and our livestock will also be drinking from there and we will flourish thanks to Water Charity. Alieu Sallah returned gratitude to Water Charity for coming to their aid.

Kerr Sam Boye Village

  • Happy times for the village. clean drinking Water is now flowing nicely
  • Girls are happy to practice the effective hand washing technique
  • Grandma Jatou is showing she has cleaned her hands by using the hand washing station provided by the water project
  • Hand washing stations is installed in the community and the community is being sensitized on how to do proper hand washing
  • Villagers using the hand washing station regularly shows the appreciation and seriousness they attach to their health as well
  • Removing the pieces of the old hand pump
  • Children eagerly look on while work goes on
  • Work in progress as the head of the village keenly looks on
  • The enthusiasm is overwhelming and the need for quick completion of the water project is felt by the entire community especially children

Manjakharr Village

  • Work is completed and the joy of water is felt across the community
  • Water is a blessing
  • Clean hands are safe hands
  • Mariama calmly listens and watches the teachings and techniques for effective hand washing
  • Fatou is a member of the sanitation team, here she is teaching the community the benefits of efefctive hand washing
  • Dismantling the handpump gradually
  • The old conversion head of the handpump
  • Work about to commence

Nawell Village

  • Everyone is happy when the project was completed and clean water for the village is now available
  • Children in a hurry to wash their hands from the hand washing station provided
  • Grandma Oulay is happy about the hand washing station. This is good for older people like us, she said.
  • Learning session for clean hand washing techniques. Communities embrace the hand washing station as a tool to combat diseases
  • Jainaba is delighted about the water project in her community. She is all smiles
  • Removing the old hand pump
  • Removing the corroded water tank of the hand pump was difficult, but with the required tools and power it all went well

Ngike Village

  • Celebrarating Water
  • That great feeling when you finally taste clean water in your community
  • Children are always happy and excited with water. They are part of those that face the severe brunt of the water crisis
  • Clean water let girls learn and reach higher education to achieve their potentials.
  • Clean hands are safe hand and better healthy living
  • Dismantling of the old handpump
  • Villagers welcoming the workers

Njoben Samba Narr Village

  • Everyone eagerly awaiting for clean drinking water
  • Testing the speed of the hand pump after the rehabilittion workw as completed
  • Men at work
  • The old conversion head
  • Removing the axle and bearings

To see project-related videos, Click Here.

This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

Flood Emergency Relief—Pakistan

Flood Emergency Relief—Pakistan

Disaster Relief

Flood Emergency Relief—Pakistan