Water for Life

How far are you ever from water? In my house, I'm never more than a few steps away from a faucet. In these homes, water might be a three hours' walk. And that water might not even be clean. When it rains, the rivers are full. But today, "rainy season" only ended a week ago and already the river beds are little rivulets if there is any water running at all. Mostly they are soggy beds of grasses. When women need water, they dig a shallow hole, maybe a foot deep, and wait for the water to sort of puddle up. It's muddy water, but it's what they have.

The World Health Organization says that enough labor-hours are spent each day by women and children carrying water to build multiple Empire State Buildings, enough hours each year to equal the entire annual workforce in France!

So how does having a well in your village change your life?

- it means you have water close by. Children can attend school and women can tend to fields or even market stalls, thus improving their family's financial situation.

- it means your water is safe to drink. River water is not just muddy, but can be contaminated with human waste, animal waste, parasites, and cholera.

- it means you can water your crops. Obviously, watered crops grow better. Duh.

- it brings communities together. Women gather and share. And communities that work together to maintain the well develop a sense teamwork and social responsibility.

BUT ... did you know that (also according to the WHO) almost half of all water projects fail for one reason or another?

Check out this well the Outreach Foundation put in on the church grounds at Mameme2.






Compared to the well the government installed less than 100 yards away...





To answer the most obvious question, the two wells are so close together because 1) the location is extremely central in a very large village, and 2) you can't just dig anywhere; you have to tap a vein, so it makes sense that they would be close.

Rather than go into the list of reasons why the village well has failed, let me instead tell you why the church's well thrives.

- the church well has rules, and the church community enforces them. For example, you don't just let go of the pump handle, allowing it to slam up. This increases wear on the system.

- the church members contribute to a maintenance fund. Each member gives one plate of corn per year, and the money accumulates towards parts and service.

It should be noted that villagers who are not members of the church are allowed to use the well, and they are asked to give a plate of corn, but they are never turned away.


And look what else is cool about this well...





Here Nedson is explaining about the concrete pillar. It's for lifting buckets of water. When a five-gallon bucket is full of water, it is crazy-heavy. Having just that little platform helps the (12-year-old) girl or woman get the right grip to heft it onto her head!

Look at our amazing Sebber proving she's still got it!








And, sure, I pumped a little water to see how hard it was. It wasn't!





(and on a side note, do you see how they're looking at me like I'm a crazy white lady? And check out these kids ... Child in the background looking all suspicious; kid in the foreground totally freaked out when he turned around and saw me standing there!)