Lower River Region’s Kiang Central Hand-Pump Repair & Hand-Washing Tour
The Lower River Division (LRD) is divided into six districts: Jarra Central, Jarra East, Jarra West, Kiang Central, Kiang East, and Kiang West. In Kiang West, 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 working 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 crop, 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.
To combat the transmission of COVID-19, Water Charity sets up a handwashing station (with a mo. supply of soap) at every well we rehabilitate.
Nemakuta, Lower River Region, Kiang Central, The Gambia, West Africa; GPS Coordinates: N13°24.943 W015°41.452
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMMUNITY
The Village of Nemakuta, located off the Trans-Gambia Highway at the border with Kiang East, has a population of roughly 1000 people. This populous village has three hand pumps but only two are currently working. Given the population, there is a lot of pressure on the two working handpumps, which are not conveniently located for 30% of the villagers. Nemakuta is made up primarily of Mandinka tribe members who survive primarily by way of subsistence farming.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
The broken handpump needs a new conversion head, a new cylinder, and a new concrete slab for a cover. The current cover is threatening to break apart, posing a safety hazard. In addition, the trusted contractor will install a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from.
This Project has been generously funded by Drop4Drop.
Jatta Kunda, Lower River Region, Kiang Central, The Gambia, West Africa; GPS Coordinates: N13°23.706 W015°41.774
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMMUNITY
Jatta Kunda is a community of 300 primarily Fula tribe members. The village is also home to a small group of Mandinka tribe members. Like most traditional Fula tribe members, the villagers of Jatta Kunda raise a large number of ruminants.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
Jatta Kunda has a twin handpump system that is their primary source of water. Both of these handpumps must be repaired. Right now the village is relying on a single handpump. With the number of domestic animals the village cares for, this one pump is insufficient. To fix the twin handpump system, a qualified contractor will provide and install two new cylinders, and six stainless steel pipes with rods inside (three for each handpump). The whole trough for water ruminants must be replaced.
This Project has been generously funded by Drop4Drop.
Mandina, Lower River Region, Kiang Central, The Gambia, West Africa; GPS Coordinates: N13°25.173 W015°41.903
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMMUNITY
Mandina is a Mandinka community of roughly 350 people. For some time, the Village has been suffering from a severe lack of water. The village’s one handpump currently takes forever to deliver water: minutes of pumping and pumping. As a result, the Village women have over time added to the wear on the pump. According to the contractor, “The women have beat it down over time.”
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
In order to make the pump more instantaneously productive, without the need for so much handle pumping, the handpump needs a new cylinder and a new conversion head. The village has ruminants, so fencing needs to be erected to keep them from contaminating the well. The current trough also needs rehabilitation with new cement.
This Project has been generously funded by Drop4Drop.
Kundong Fula Kunda, Lower River Region, Kiang Central, The Gambia, West Africa; GPS Coordinates: N13°25.049 W015°43.777
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMMUNITY
There are three Kundongs: Kundong Mariya, Kundong Numu Kunda, and Kundong Fula Kunda. When the Fulas that eventually settled in Kundong Fula Kunda initially arrived, they attempted to settle in Kundong Mariya. The Kundong Mariya villagers—primarily Mandinka—said they could not because they did not want to mix with Fulas. To appease the new settlers, who were fleeing violence in Cassamance, Senegal—the people of Kundong Mariya allowed the new Fula migrants to settle in Kundong Fula instead. Kundong Fula is now populated by 950 primarily Fula tribes members, with a number of Mandinka, as well. Like many traditional Fula, the village is home to many herdsmen.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
The broken handpump needs a new cylinder, a new concrete slab, two stainless steel pipes, and a new trough for the village’s domestic animals. All new parts will be installed by a reputable contractor.
This Project has been generously funded by Drop4Drop
Sarr Kunda, Lower River Region, Kiang Central, The Gambia, West Africa; GPS Coordinates: N13°24.285 W015°46.171
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMMUNITY
Sarr Kunda is a community made up of 200 primarily Mandinka tribe members who survive largely by way of subsistence farming.
DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
The community has only one handpump that frequently breaks; as a result, the community frequently needs to travel over 500 meters to the neighboring village of Bambakoto fetch water using donkey carts and wheelbarrows. The handpump needs a new conversion head, a new cylinder, a new tank, a new water trough for animals to drink from, and a new solid concrete slab cover for public safety.
This Project has been generously funded by Mark Wilson.
WASH Technicians working on Kiang Central water projects.
To read details about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE. To read details about the Kiang Central Handpump Repair Tour Phase II, CLICK HERE.