Providing Safe Drinking Water to Rural Communities
After the 14 years of civil unrest in Liberia in 2003, many humanitarian organizations came in the country and constructed hand pumps to provide safe drinking water to many rural communities. Nearly 95% of those hand pumps that were constructed by NGOs are now damaged and rural communities are now fetching water from unsafe sources including rivers, streams, creeks, open wells, etc.
With support from our partner, One Percent Fund for Development, FOWACE was able to identify and repair 20 damaged hand pumps in 20 rural communities in Lofa County, Liberia and now providing safe drinking water to over 5000 people. Providing safe drinking water to rural communities that rely on unsafe sources is crucial for several reasons:
Health Benefits: Unsafe water sources often harbor contaminants like bacteria, parasites, etc leading to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and tyhpoid fever. Access to safe drinking water reduces the prevalence of these diseases, improving overall health and well-being
Economic Empowerment: Women and girls bear the primary responsibility for fetching water, access to safe water frees up their time, allowing them to pursue education, income generating activities, and other opportunities. This can contribute to poverty reduction and economic empowerment.
Education: Children, especially girls often miss classes or school to help fetch water in the morning from far distances or unreliable sources. With safe water access closer to home, attendance rates improve, leading to better educational outcomes and increased literacy rates.
