Community Well Repair – Mali
In this rural village in Mali, the majority of people get their drinking water from traditional wells. These uncovered and easily-eroded wells are a major source of waterborne diseases.
Intestinal worms and other parasites are especially dangerous for children, making them susceptible to dehydration, diarrhea, and malnutrition. Additionally, unkempt well areas attract mosquitoes, increasing the incidence of malaria.
Recognizing water quality as a major obstacle to their wellbeing, the community formed a Water and Sanitation Committee in December, 2008. Since then, they have held monthly meetings to discuss the community’s sanitation problems, and have participated in two major training sessions with Peace Corps staff.
The Committee designed, implemented, and completed 19 highly successful top-well repairs. Each repair involved intense structural reinforcement as well as the installation of a metal door to protect against debris and contamination.
The committee supplemented the construction with ongoing educational activities and monitoring of water treatment and sanitation behaviors.
The success of the first project generated such a positive response that the community is enthusiastically ready to expand their efforts. In this project, 35 top-well repairs will be done in the central village and surrounding hamlets.
The villagers are contributing 26% of the total budget, consisting of labor, gravel, boulders, transportation of materials, as well as a small amount of funds.
After the completion of the top-well repairs, the committee will monitor water quality and perform chlorine treatments. In addition, they will collect money from users to be utilized for repairs and future development.
The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer E. Hurley.
This project restores ineffective wells to use as a resource for the community. The dynamic planning and implementation of the prior project, together with a large community contribution toward the project show their commitment. Their demonstrated fiscal responsibility, educational participation, and pre-planning for monitoring and maintenance all come together to ensure sustainability.
$0.00 - The Water Charity participation in this project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts and Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
Any additional donations using the Donate button below will be used to fund other projects by this PCV and/or other PCVs in this country.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.
Conclusion of Community Well Repair Project – Mali
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Hurley. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK
HERE.
This project was to do 35 top-well repairs in the central village and surrounding hamlets.
Emily reports:
We have completed 35 top-well repairs throughout 4 villages in the commune of Dombila. Two trained masons teamed with local volunteers to reinforce well structure and equip wells with metal covers. In addition, each beneficiary site received training in essential behaviors around the well areas and water treatment.
The project went smoothly, and our project objectives held throughout. We assessed the project with an evaluation event where PCVs teamed with Water and Sanitation Committee Members to assess well structure and sanitation.
The goals of construction and training were reached, and all but 4 of the sites reached the behavioral standards for well treatment and cleanliness spelled out by the committee. The committee then returned to these sites for additional training with beneficiaries.
The project was successful in training of over 700 beneficiaries on well sanitation, improved standing water, and water quality.
The project resulted in the committee improving in its management techniques and decision-making capabilities. In addition, we strengthened relationship with groups within and outside of the community working on similar goals.
The participants reported a noticed improvement in water quality and a decrease in water-borne diseases among beneficiaries.
In addition, the project greatly built the capacity of the masons. Last year, these two masons were but apprentices, but the quality of the top-well repairs only improved during the project. Now, these two men demonstrate high ability in technique of top well repaired and are groomed for similar work should it arise in the future.
To provide for sustainability into the future, each well site now has a packet of information on how to maintain their well, and many have established savings for upkeep costs. Sites are also required to pay a membership fee to the committee every year as reparation insurance. Each committee member is in charge of 3 to 5 wells and will report any problems, behaviorally or structurally, at monthly committee meetings. Members will also remind well owners to treat the water with chlorine at the start of every month.
We are grateful to Emily for completing the project and to Six Senses Resorts & Spas for providing the funding.