The water situation is not good for thie Sabasengo community. Families are dependent on collecting water from the dirty dam and from irrigation channels, which continue to expose them to waterborne illnesses such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and parasites, to name a few. Many children are missing school due to illness and have no energy to focus on their schoolwork. Girls are dropping out, as they are the ones who must collect the water.
Often, families spend what little money they have on medications due to waterborne illnesses. Children under 5 are at high risk of death due to these illnesses.
Many families have stories of losing loved ones to share. It’s difficult to hold a job when you are running fevers, have diarrhea or parasites who take more than half of the nutrients from the foods you eat. There are work opportunities now with the new road going through their community, but they cannot stay healthy long enough to stay employed.
Living Water International will provide a deep well and water distribution system, hygiene training, and backstopping support to local water user committees and local government structures. Water users will pay small monthly water user fees by household and these funds will be collected and managed by the water user committee for future repairs and maintenance of the system.
Living Water International coordinates with local churches to help spread the Gospel and develop disciples, in addition to meeting physical needs for clean water in the community.
Background
Budayi is a 74-year-old farmer and leader in Sabasengo. He shared his point of view on the community’s water situation, saying, “We used to get our domestic water from the dirty dam and in the irrigation channels. We were exposed to many waterborne diseases that impacted our lives greatly. We had many children drop out of school.”
Solution
The Living Water staff visited the community and found that the residents desperately needed a safe water source. They were also ready to care for a water system, so the staff announced the construction of a complex water system. They returned later with a rig and drilled into the earth until reaching a safe water aquifer that was then connected to an elevated water tank. They also installed solar panels to power the submersible pump. Finally, they connected piping to a newly constructed concrete trough for the livestock.
Bringing Living Water
Throughout the water project, the Living Water team also shared the good news of God’s love and his offer of living water to everyone. They used the story of the Samaritan woman at the well found in John 4 to underline this invitation. At the completion of the well, the team held a well dedication service alongside the local church, where residents thanked the Lord for his provision through you, Ingomar Living Waters!
Construction Details
Pump type: | solar submersible pump |
Project type: | complex water system |
Depth of well: | 125 m (410 ft) |
Coliform bacteria: | absent |
Community Details
Previous water source: | dam |
Location: | rural community |
Total users: | 2,245 |
Main water collectors: | women and children |
The Ingomar Living Waters donors who funded this project are truly WORLD CHANGERs. They have changed everything by bringing safe water to the Sabasengo community. Thanks to you, they now have safe water in abundance right outside of their homes. They no longer fear water shortages or becoming sick with waterborne diseases. Your gift has provided them with the means to escape reaction-based patterns of living. Sustaining their new well has instilled hope and confidence in the community members and inspired additional community-led development. Your gift also serves as a reminder of God’s great love for each person in the community and as evidence that he cares both for their physical and spiritual needs.
All projects are made possible by World Changers.