Child Friendly Community, Nimba, Garr-Bain, Liberia

The 278 residents of the Child Friendly community longed for a solution to their water crisis. When the hand pump on their well broke down, community members began relying on open, hand-dug wells for their daily water needs. However, these sources were exposed to external contaminants and dangerous bacteria. Community members reluctantly drank from these wells, but unfortunately, they often suffered from waterborne illnesses like typhoid and dysentery. They knew the water was not safe to drink, but it was their only option. Some residents tried to gather water from other communities, but this required walking for many hours. The burden of the water crisis robbed precious time from women and children. As a result, many women were unable to work to support their families, and girls and boys often missed class while searching for water.

Because the task of water collection was so arduous and time-consuming, residents were unable to maintain healthy sanitation and hygiene habits. They cleaned with contaminated water and often neglected to wash their hands. To truly thrive, the Child Friendly community needed a reliable source of safe drinking water, but they lacked the financial resources necessary to end their water crisis.

After learning about our work in the area, some community members reached out to our team for assistance. Staff visited the Child Friendly community and saw the challenges residents faced firsthand. The team decided that rehabilitating one of the hand-dug wells and converting it into a safe, functioning well with a hand pump was the most efficient solution. Our team repaired the existing well shaft lining, sealed the well with concrete grout, installed a hand pump, and reconstructed an improved concrete platform around the well with a drainage channel. The well was then ready for use!

To ensure the sustainability of this water project, our team mobilized the Child Friendly community members to select a water committee to oversee the well’s maintenance. The water committee was trained by our team on how to manage and, if needed, repair the well so that the residents could assume full ownership of their water point. Community members also participated in sanitation and hygiene sessions to learn how they could use the well to improve the health of their families.

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