The availability of clean water is considered a basic human right, yet in many places, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), access to clean water remains a significant challenge. More than one billion people in developing regions still lack access to safe water sources, leading to severe health issues. Every year, 2-3 million children under the age of five die due to diarrheal diseases, often contracted from contaminated water sources, with nearly 90 percent of these fatalities occurring among young children. Shockingly, an estimated 4,500 to 6,000 children perish daily due to water-related diseases. The World Health Organization reports that approximately half of the developing world’s population is affected by six major diseases related to inadequate water supply and sanitation: diarrhoea, ascaris, dracunculiasis, hookworm, schistosomiasis, and trachoma. Nearly half of the people in the Marshall Islands are at risk of consuming contaminated water, affecting around 20,000 individuals. While some have access to improved water sources, only 58.8% of households employ proper water treatment methods, leaving the remaining 41.2% vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
The Marshall Islands face a critical shortage of fresh water, with a majority of households (about 79%) relying on rainwater catchments for drinking water. This means that roughly 80% of the total population, or approximately 42,854 individuals, heavily depend on collected rainwater for their water needs. Sadly, island water sources suffer from bacterial pollution, as evidenced by samples from Majuro’s water company piping system showing contamination by total coliform and E. coli, both resulting from human and animal waste, leading to illnesses. Astonishingly, household water sources exhibit similar levels of contamination as urban areas, contributing to the increasing prevalence of waterborne diseases. Gastroenteritis ranks as the third most common cause of hospitalization among children under 5 years old in the Marshall Islands, with one in three Marshallese children experiencing stunted growth. Diarrhoea and intestinal parasites play a significant role in childhood malnutrition by reducing food intake, impairing nutrient absorption, causing direct nutrient loss, and weakening the immune system. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, with the Marshall Islands experiencing more frequent freshwater crises, including severe droughts in 2013 and 2016, where some individuals survived on less than a liter of water per person per day.
Project Details
The objective of this project is to identify sustainable and socially viable solutions to address the problems associated with contaminated water. Various purification methods such as chlorination, distillation, boiling, sedimentation, and high-tech filters have been employed, but they encounter obstacles like high costs, maintenance requirements, reliance on fossil fuels, and long waiting periods. Our proposed solution involves distributing an affordable and effective water filter, the Sawyer One Point System, which operates without electricity and is both sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Phase I of the project positively impacted nearly 14,000 people across 21 of the 23 inhabited atolls in the RMI, excluding Majuro and Ebeye. Phase II extended its reach to 33,000 residents in the urban centers of Majuro and Ebeye. This initiative aims to reduce waterborne diseases stemming from unsafe water and water scarcity, including scabies, diarrhea, and typhoid, while also addressing water quality issues. It aligns with national frameworks and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Project Summary
Regarding project implementation, the Marshall Islands consist of 7,738 households, with over half residing in Majuro and Ebeye. Phase I prioritized the 22 outer island communities, focusing on the most vulnerable populations. Phase II expanded its efforts to Majuro and Ebeye, reaching 33,000 more individuals.
Water Charity collaborated with the KIO, the national government, local community leaders, and organizations to identify families in need of clean water filters. Recipients were educated on the importance of safe drinking water and proper hygiene, and the filters were installed with the help of various stakeholders. Ongoing costs were minimal, with local authorities and recipients entrusted with the long-term maintenance of the filters. The project aims to distribute filters to every household in need in the Marshall Islands.
In February 2023, the project – Water is Life! successfully conducted water filter awareness consultations on Ebeye, distributing tap filters and bucket filters to households, churches, and schools. The initiative reached various communities, and follow-up surveys are planned to assess the effectiveness of the filters. The project is on the verge of providing 100% access to clean and safe water in the Marshall Islands.
Phase II, spanning from 2021 to 2023, targeted urban households in Majuro and Ebeye, distributing 900 filter systems on Ebeye and 3,968 filters on Majuro. Initial funding of $15,000 from Water Charity, facilitated this phase. Majuro Do it Best Company shipped filters from the U.S. mainland to Majuro and Ebeye Island. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Human Services provided additional funding to cover travel expenses for members to travel from Majuro to Ebeye. Faucet filters were chosen for Ebeye, as most homes had access to household faucet systems. Training workshops and assistance with water filter distribution were conducted on the ground.
In Majuro, filter distribution began in Laura Village, extending to Rita, Delap, and Jenrok communities, with nearly 3,000 filters distributed to households by mid-July 2023. The project held a dinner event to acknowledge the collective efforts of those involved in ensuring access to clean and safe water for all communities in the Marshall Islands.
As of July 2023, Phase II has distributed an additional 5,000 water filters to urban households on Ebeye and Majuro, benefiting 33,000 more Marshallese individuals. Since the inception of the Dren In Mour project in 2018, nearly 8,000 water filters have been distributed across all communities in the Marshall Islands, fulfilling the goal of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water. The project’s success has been made possible through collaboration and commitment from various project partners.
Phase III, planned for 2023-2024, aims to improve drinking water systems in public schools in the Marshall Islands, furthering the mission of providing clean and safe water to all residents. Despite significant infrastructure improvements in public schools, many still lack adequate access to safe drinking water.
Beneficiary Testimonials
Ronnie Lia Graham mentioned “It’s dry in Rearlaplap now and this filter is saving lives….I drank coconut and waini for 3 days coz of no water in the house I stay at. That bucket with filter works! Wish I had my iPad with me to take pics.”
Ekta Madan said “I am highly motivated to present my testimony of this filter before all of you and how it has changed my life. Earlier I used to fetch water from town to my place of stay in Rairok which was really cumbersome and expensive too including the taxi fare. I had to find out ways every week to have safe storage of water for my domestic use. It was a life-changing moment for me few weeks ago when I was introduced to this new tap filter by Ms Monique Strauss. The problem of purchasing filtered water bottles no longer exists I am using this safe small filter every day to fill my water from my catchment on a regular basis. So far I have not found any physical illness due to consumption of water using this filter but I feel more empowered as it saves my time, money and efforts to spend on drinking water which is our natural resource. DREN IN MOUR. Thanks to all the project people for providing this valuable filter to all people in Majuro.”
Molly Murphy stated “The Water is Life project is hands down one of the most valuable projects implemented in our communities and we at MIEPI feel privileged to have been able to provide some support. I for one am a recipient of the water filter distributed here in Ajeltake. The filter has improved life for my family in many ways. We no longer need to haul heavy water jugs between Ajetake and town just so we can access clean drinking water. It has also saved us money.”
We gave clean water to an entire small island today in the Marshall Islands! We’re about to reach the finish line of border to border clean water!
The finish line recipients for border-to-border clean water in the Marshall Islands!
A little girl who is eager to learn how to use filters.
Training people on effective use of water filters.
Water filter Distribution.
Hands-on practice to use filters.
It’s easy to clean filters for the long run.
The funds for this program have been advanced by Water Charity. Your donation using the Donate button will ensure that we have funds available to accomplish this project. Kindly donate using the button.
This project has been completed. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
#WaterisLife! One of the last recipients of clean drinking water in The Marshall Islands
Epworth community members waiting to retrieve water from an unsafe well, the water that residents retrieve from this location is dirty and unsafe.
Water Charity, in partnership with Dare to Share launched a WASH initiative to meet the needs of the community. Limited access to clean water and a lack of hygiene resources are the largest challenges that Epworth residents face. A vast majority of the population relies on rivers and an inactive quarry for washing, bathing, and drinking. Waste has contaminated these resources and water-borne illnesses are rampant in the suburbs. The population suffers from HIV, tuberculosis, cholera, malaria, and parasites such as schistosomiasis. The number of infectious diseases will continue to rise if the water crisis is not averted.
Chiremba Road is a busy location that most residents use to travel long distances in order to retrieve water. Many residents in this area walked five to seven hours a day to the rivers. These residents suffered from diarrhea, parasites, and other water-borne illnesses because the river water is not safe to consume. Residents relied on these rivers for bathing, washing clothes, washing pots and pans, and drinking. They walked in hot, hazardous conditions daily to retrieve water that would likely make them ill. The burden of retrieving water fell on the shoulders of young girls and women in particular who missed school to travel, collect, and boil the water once they returned. Children in this area struggled to attend school in general because they spent their days traveling to the rivers to bathe, preparing water for meals, and gathering firewood so that they could boil the water once they attained it. Children oftentimes missed school due to waterborne illnesses. Chiremba Road is a densely populated area where up to ten families may stay in one household. Frequent visits to the rivers increased pollution significantly. The rivers are polluted with human waste and litter. A new borehole well would reduce trips to the rivers, thus diminishing the rate of pollution.
Project Description
The Epworth WASH Program is drilling boreholes to provide clean water to the residents. with clean water. Currently, residents have access to one borehole, two rivers and a quarry for washing and drinking water. Natural resources are contaminated. Rates of infectious diseases are high 4% of children regularly miss school due to water-borne diseases. Cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and bilharzia are common infections. The successful completion of Water Charity’s WASH project will reduce infectious disease rates, provide socio-economic opportunities and empower the community. One borehole can provide water for 1,000 people. The long-term goal of the WASH project is to drill 200 borehole wells. The project’s long-term goal also includes the Construction of hygiene facilities, including water closets, showers and laundry facilities. Fifty of these facilities will meet the needs of the community. Water Charity’s current focus is on the borehole project. Epworth currently has access to two working boreholes. The first was constructed before we started the WASH program. The second was completed in May 2023.
Progress Photos – 1
Board members; removal of old well system in background
Community board member assisting with taking materials off truck transport
Community members assisting contract workers with removal of old well system
Volunteers assisting with removal of old well system
Removing materials from truck transport
More community members arrive to assist with unloading well materials
Stands for collection barrels
Truck hire arrives with collection barrels
Truck transport and collection barrels
Community members assisting with erecting collection stands
Truck transport delivering collection barrels to site
Water collection barrel
Prepping soil for collection barrel stands
The WASH project aims to build two hundred borehole wells and fifty hygiene facilities. The phases of the project are as follows:
● Phase 1: Complete two borehole wells. The first is by Chiremba Road, a densely populated area of residents who have to walk up to seven hours a day to retrieve water from the rivers. The second will be by Epworth Secondary School to support the health of students and decrease the risk of infectious diseases that frequently prevent children from attending classes.
● Phase 2: Utilize grant funds to acquire a borehole drill rig and begin drilling several borehole wells yearly. This phase will provide many employment opportunities to community members. We will train members to operate the rig and construct the wells while following proper safety procedures and guidelines.
● Phase 3: Construct fifty hygiene facilities. The hygiene facilities will include showers, water closets, and laundromats. Residents currently have no access to hygiene facilities and depend on contaminated bodies of water to bathe, wash, cook, and drink. The hygiene facilities will drastically reduce infectious disease rates and improve the community’s health. We aim to hire community members to assist in building these facilities, thus providing job opportunities.
Water Charity’s donation of $6,000 has allowed to complete the first borehole well as outlined in Phase 1. The well currently supports 2,000 families that live on Chiremba Road. These families no longer have to travel several hours a day in hot conditions to retrieve dirty water. Your support has touched many lives within the first few months of our WASH project alone.
Progress Photos – 2
Community members assist with installing day six solar panels and wiring box
Day 6 , Solar panel assembly in Epworth
Installing wire-box
Solar panel wiring in Epworth
Solar installation in Epworth
We set the following goals as measurable objectives for the first well project:
Provide clean water to the residents of Chiremba Road, a community of 2,000 families that have no access to WASH resources.
Reduce pollution of natural water resources by providing a new borehole well.
Reduce infectious disease rates
Increase school attendance
Boost community involvement by creating volunteer opportunities, instructing residents on how to maintain the new borehole well, and providing careers to residents by hiring locals to keep the well secure, thus bringing revenue into the community.
Provide a clean water resource that all members of the community can use.
Hygiene has improved for children attending school. Children are able to wash their uniforms with water that is not contaminated. They are clean when they arrive to take their classes. They also have clean water to drink throughout the school day which is contributing to the decrease in waterborne illness. We will be using the following methods to measure the continued success of the project:
1. We have installed a water meter to measure the daily water usage in gallons. This will indicate how often the residents are using the well, and to what degree.
2. We are in contact with the local clinic. We have requested monthly reports of infectious diseases. We will send these reports to Water Charity as we receive them.
3. We are in contact with the local schools. The schools have agreed to share attendance data with us. We will use this data to track school attendance as it relates to the new borehole well. We expect that school attendance will be consistent now that children no longer have to miss class to retrieve water.
Progress Photos – 3
Community members by completed borehole well
We have clean water
Water collection barrels and solar panels assembled
Clean water is running
Checking the wire box
Getting clean water from the well
View of the local suburb from the well
Challenges & Outcomes
There were several challenges involved in the project. We predicted these challenges and were equipped to mitigate them as efficiently and effectively as possible. Most of the issues we dealt with involved navigating systems of corruption in Zimbabwe. When gathering quotes from contractors for the well materials and installation, we received values that were far above what was initially promised. The contractors were exaggerating the amounts to make excess profits. Once we gathered data on how much materials and installation should cost, the contractors settled for the prices outlined in the initial grant proposal. The final costs of the project are outlined in the budgetary portion of this report.
There is a strict political divide in Zimbabwe right now since elections are underway. Many residents cannot retrieve water from other areas in Epworth due to political dissension. One suburb will prevent another suburb from using its clean water resources because of differences in political beliefs. We were able to provide a clean water resource to all residents regardless of political affiliation. We are seeing the well unite the community in this way. Residents are communing peacefully with one another for the sake of protecting their new borehole well. We not only met our goals for the new borehole well project, but we also exceeded them. The well receives an estimated 2,000-3,000 visitors a week. Most visitors live in the well’s vicinity. Others are travelers who formerly walked several hours to retrieve water from the rivers. We are already observing a decrease in infectious diseases. Clinic visits are down by 6%. We receive data from the clinics on a monthly basis. We will be sure to share this data as we regularly receive the reports.
Communication was at times an issue. Electricity is not always available and communication between parties could be delayed for unpredictable amounts of time. We were fortunate enough to avoid significant delays in the borehole project due to communication, but there was an incident where the contractor who finished the well could not be contacted to resolve an error. The contractor installed an AC pump rather than a DC pump by mistake. The well was unable to fill the barrels with enough water. Two weeks passed before our team could contact the contractor to replace the pump. We are working to implement better protocols to resolve communication issues for future projects. Our team in Zimbabwe struggled to engage community members when the well project began. This was due in part to political controversy. Residents were unwilling to unite and assist with completing the well. Our Zimbabwe team resolved these tensions by clarifying our status as a neutral party with no political affiliations. By the end of the week, residents were volunteering with brick-laying for a collection station, cleaning the construction debris, keeping the well sanitary, and securing the premises. According to our Zimbabwe project coordinator, residents expressed that “they were one people” because the well was a community effort. As stated before, the well is unifying the community.
Going forward, the short-term objectives of the Water Charity’s borehole project are as follows:
Objective 1: Increase access to clean water for the people of Epworth through the construction of an additional third borehole, which will serve an additional 2,000 families.
Objective 2: Prolong the life of Epworth’s existing clean water resources through the completion of a third borehole well, thereby reducing the overuse of existing resources and minimizing repair costs.
Objective 3: Support the local economy by employing Zimbabwean-owned contractors to complete the construction of the borehole.
Objective 4: Encourage community involvement by creating volunteer opportunities for local residents to assist with general works associated with the borehole.
Objective 5: Support the local economy by creating jobs for Epworth residents, such as hiring day and night guards to secure the wells. A borehole can be completed within a week of securing the necessary funding.
Completion Photos
Children visiting from local suburb
Volunteers assisting with well completion
Volunteers assisting with well completion
Construction of refill station
1.7. Community members volunteering with collection station construction
Collection barrels against blue sky
Security fence
Conclusion Report
The borehole completed by Water Charity in April 2023 was built at Domboramwari Bridge along the Chiremba circuit. The borehole has been serving 2,000-3,000 people per month since its completion. This well was originally drilled in 2020 and equipped with a hand pump. The well was not operational until Water Charity provided the funds to rehabilitate it. Contractors replaced the old system with a solar-powered pump to restore its functionality and provide water to more of the community.
The cost of materials included the water tanks, tank stands, solar pump, power cable, pipes, fittings, rope and control box. Once the well materials were secured, the project manager scheduled the installation of the borehole through a third-party contractor. Construction began on 29 March 2023 with the removal of the old system. The new borehole was completed with the installation of solar panels on 7 April 2023. Due to the high crime rate in the region, extensive security measures were required for the successful completion of the project. A second contractor was hired to build a security fence around the well. Two security guards were hired to protect the wells and community members once the borehole was operational. These guards were trusted community members who had been employed through the WASH program.
Community volunteers assisted the team throughout the well construction process. Approximately five community members at a time helped with the installation of the well. Once the well was installed, the community members helped build a brick guard house and a water collection station. Community members were readily available when needed.
Beneficiary’s Testimonials
We are thankful for the generosity of Water Charity. Your donation allowed Epworth’s residents to strengthen their relationships with one another. They did so by collaborating on the new well project. The well is continuing to unite them as they are working together to keep it secure, safe, and clean.
The well receives an estimated 2,000-3,000 visitors a week. Most visitors live in the well’s vicinity. Others are travelers who formerly walked several hours to retrieve water from the rivers. We are already observing a decrease in infectious diseases. Clinic visits are down by 6%. We receive data from the clinics on a monthly basis. We will be sure to share this data with Water Charity as we regularly receive the reports.
School attendance has increased since the completion of the borehole well. Girls are attending their classes instead of sacrificing their days to fetch water. We have seen a 4% increase in school attendance since the borehole well opened to the public. These numbers are likely to continue rising. We are receiving monthly reports from the local schools to track school attendance and will be sharing these numbers with Water Charity as well.
We value your partnership in this project. It has been a pleasure to work with Water Charity to bring clean water to Zimbabwe. Thanks to your contribution, children in this region are able to attend school without sacrificing their education to retrieve contaminated water. Women are empowered to pursue career opportunities now that they do not have to sacrifice their days to fetch water. Young girls are attending their classes in school as well. Residents have access to clean water that they can use to bathe and wash their clothes. The hygiene of this region has improved significantly within weeks of the borehole opening to the public. The borehole will continue to increase the health and sanitation of this region over time.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to Water Charity for helping us serve the Epworth community. You have blessed these people with your generosity. The new borehole well has greatly contributed to the health and well-being of these people. It will continue to bless them every day.
To see project-related videos, CLICK HERE. To read about the beginning of this project, CLICK HERE.
The Busoga Region borehole program was launched on 13 March. The launch was attended by political and religious leaders, journalists, government officials, health teams and village elders. They discussed the land to be allocated for the borehole and the election of a Bore Hole Leadership Committee (BHLC). The purpose of the Bore Hole Leadership Committee (BHLC) is to ensure general cleanliness and maintenance of the water source and to mobilize the community to pay their monthly contribution of $0.27. The community elders were to be responsible for protecting the borehole. Each village provided free land for a borehole and part of the accommodation for the team working on the borehole. We focused on using local labor, as this creates employment opportunities and enables them to earn a living for their families.
On 14 March 2023, the digging of the boreholes started in three villages, Bulamangi(A), Bulamangi(B) and Kasolo, each of which received one borehole. There were 3 workers assigned to each well. Accommodation and food for the workers were provided by the project and sometimes voluntarily by the community.
This project is aimed to bring 50 boreholes in the 25 villages, each village is to get 2 new boreholes. So far we have managed to launch 3 new boreholes in Bulamangi(A), Bulamangi(B) (Bwanalira) and Kasolo Villages with a population of about 3300 people. This is a great milestone although the above need to receive more boreholes to continuously minimize the risks encountered during the search for clean water.
Safe Water access is made available in the 3 villages.
Water Charity along with the OKOA Hero’s Child Ministries, in collaboration with the Village Health Team, have been able to educate the community on how to use water to improve sanitation and hygiene in their homes.
Challenges Encountered and Actions Taken
CHALLENGES
ACTION TAKEN
Material prices changed due to the unstable economy in the country.
We managed to use a bargain for a good price.
Weather changes – Uganda majorly expects 2 seasons both dry and wet seasons. Majorly during the rainy season it’s hard to dig the well since it makes it filled with water hence delaying work to be accomplished in the time frame.
We used the Water pump to drain out water from the well and also used the chance that it’s at the other side positive that the soil is softener hence easing the work.
Hard rocky layer at well 1 and falling sticky soils at well 2 for more than 5-10 feet deep, which brought some delays.
We used a rock-drilling machine to break through and good enough after a few days we managed to beat it. For the sticky soils we had to use bricks and cement to block it from falling and this really worked.
Accommodations for both labor workers and organization staff. The village infrastructures are poor and squeezed.
We had no solution rather than planning it for our next round of work. Camping tents will be purchased during our next phase.
2 Casual workers suffered from Malaria.
They all got treatment at the nearby health center. We plan that in our next phase, we will purchase a few antimalarials in case of an emergency.
Beneficiary Testimonials
Nakanda Aisha mentioned that she feels good to have Water in the community. Before, they have been loitering, moving in different directions to look for water. It’s of a good fortune that they now have water and thanked the organization.
Ramazan Bikhado(Jewewo) said that he thanks the organization for drilling them a borehole. Earlier, he visited the offices with a request for assistance since their village was badly off. They had only one borehole that broke down, at that point eating, bathing and washing was difficult. Therefore, he thanks the organization for rescuing them and prays that Allah rewards the organization.
Nabirye Stellah, a young mother in Bwanalira Village stated that she thanks Water Charity for bringing them water nearer. They have been struggling for water, walking long distances. At times their colleagues were delayed coming back from school…. the other borehole was locked and sometimes they decided to miss bathing. She said “Thank you very much Water Charity and May God Bless You!”
Balidawa Samson from Bwanalira Village expressed his thanks to Water Charity for donating them a borehole for water. Before, they have had multiple challenges since the water source was very far. Their children walked at night to look for water. Now that it’s near, they are thankful and pray for more boreholes for the safety of the children in the village.
To see more testimonials, CLICK HERE. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The Tento Malick Bah community water project has been successfully completed. A 4.5-inch borehole was mechanically drilled at the depth of 55 meters, and a high-quality GRUNDFOS solar submersible pump capable of pumping 50,000 liters per day was installed, along with high-quality mono-crystalline solar panels. A fully braced 6-meter galvanized tower was built and a 2,000-liter triple-coated water storage tank was mounted on the tower.
Trenches were dug by the community as part of their manual labor contribution towards the project and pipes were laid from the water tower to three selected water points (taps) in the village. These three water points made water accessible and easier to reach by all villagers. All materials involved in the project were ensured to be of high-quality material considering the harsh environmental conditions around that area.
Additional pipe laying was done with thick pressure pipes and polyethylene pipes to provide an extra tap for a household living at the far end of the village and also catering to neighboring communities like Daru Mbaine, who will also benefit from the project.
Community members were valuable participants in driving the project to a successful completion. They dug all the trenches and assisted in the pipe laying. They took good care of the contractors, providing them with ample food.
The Alkalo (head of the village) extends his sincere thanks to Water Charity and Working Water Gambia for the successful project. He highlighted the tremendous benefit this water project has in the community, especially for women and girls. The head of the village development committee Mr. Sambujang Sow urged each household to be serious in paying a reasonable monthly token which will help in any future maintenance. He also urged the Community’s water management team to be steadfast and dedicated as usual and be ready to serve the community towards the sustainability of the project. In response, the community members promise to pay their monthly tokens toward the upkeep of the water system. They expressed their sincere thanks and profound happiness for the project.
The public health officer overseeing the village also expressed her gratitude for the project. She mentioned the numerous cases of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases she had to treat in the village. Most families went bankrupt due to their families being sick from bad water, she said. Fatou Saidy, a mother of 5 children, says she is overjoyed about the project and gives thanks to the donors. Kemo Fatajo, a Red Cross health volunteer said he will help in teaching and training the community with hygiene and water management issues, especially for women and girls, now that water can easily be accessed. Special thanks to Mark Wilson (RPCV)) and Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church for making this project a success.
To see other related videos, Click Here. To see the beginning of the project. Click Here.
Happy smiles on women as clean water flows meaning an end to diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases affecting their children for far too long
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 9 villages by rehabilitating handpumps, installing new ones where necessary, and providing hand washing stations to improve sanitation and hygiene in the communities of Bajana Village, Brefet Village, Bullock Village, Jagil Village, Jalokoto Village, Ndemban Japihuim Village, Ndemban Jola Village, Somita Village and Sutusinjang 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 10,000 people.
PROJECT 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, 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 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 works like digging, collecting sand and gravel. They also hosted workers, which assured that all materials were secured.
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 9 villages in the Foni Brefet District. This has been successfully achieved at the completion of the project.
The Foni region has long suffered from the lack of clean drinking water. The region has been hit hard with the mass felling of trees and frequent bushfires. Also, the conflict between Senegalese forces and separatist rebels in the southern Senegalese region of Cassamance has made things worse for the region of Foni as it shares a long border with Cassamance. Mass movement of refugees from the recent clashes has worsened the water crisis for communities hosting the refugees. 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. Foni 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. Statistics has shown that Foni is one of the lowest female enrolment rates in school. 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 the Fonis, open defecation is not as big a concern as it is in the central 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.
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.
Hand washing stations is installed in the community and the community is being sensitized on how to do proper hand washing
BENEFICIARY TESTIMONIAL
The excitement and happiness is overwhelming in all the communities. Heads of villages of the respective 9 villages all expressed their sincere thanks for the project and happiness, highlighting the positive impact that these clean water projects have in their lives. Burama Saidy, 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 the increased well-being. He also mentioned the importance and timeliness of the project given communities have experienced an influx of refugees from the Cassamance crisis.
Mrs. Jainaba Ceesay, the head of the cultural women group called the “Kanyeleng’’ in Somita Ward also gave her 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. 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. The traditional Chief ruler of the district Junkung Camara says the power of clean drinking water unifies tribes and clans. This project will solidify brotherliness and more understanding among ourselves, he said. He also urged village water committee members to wholeheartedly strive to take good care of the water sources. I used to wake up as early as 4 AM, says Musukebba Jarju, a resident of Jalokoto Village. “Now I can have a peace of mind because this project has provided easily accessed to clean water for me and my family. I am the happiest woman on earth’’, she said…
Thanks to the donors for making this project a success.
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BAJANA ViLLAGE
The villagers seem to be in a hurry for clean drinking water even though the workers are not fully completely ready with works
Old and rusty conversion head of the handpump. The community has been without a working water source for long
Old and rusty handpump water tank
Dismantling the handpump getting the old pieces out
The water trough
BREFET VILLAGE
These students are making best use of the hand washing station after using the toilet. Hand washing culture is inculcated in the community
Work in progress
Water is life
Water is flowing finally after long time they have been without clean drinking water
This is the old rusty cylinder
Power and sweat with hard labor by our able contractors. They are truly dedicated in their works
Gearing up ready for work
Putting on the brand new Grundfos stainless steel high quality cylinder for German Mark 2 handpumps. Quality is assured
BULLOCK VILLAGE
All smiles and joy when water is available. Life becomes meaningful with clean drinking water
All the kids want to have a go with the handpump. The excitement of having clean drinking water is huge
Grandma sits patiently waiting for the good news that clean drinking water is available now for the community
While others are in the farms, members of the community came out to help the workrs
Pull up time
Putting on the brand new Grundfos stainless steel high quality cylinder for German Mark 2 handpumps. Quality is assured
Removing the old rusty pipes replacing them with stainless steel pipes for durability
