Here's the Plan...

Do Ability

Having clean water to drink is essential to healthy, productive life. Many places in Africa have aqueducts of clean water that aren't very deep below the surface. But often, these places don't have the means or technology to access it. Africa Water Is Life is a fundraising and publicity entity that provides the financial means as well as access to drilling technology so that World Hope International can go into villages that need clean water and wells. Africa Water Is Life is an experienced group of young, energetic entrepreneurs who want to use the Tipping Bucket platform to augment their fundraising capability. 

Readiness

Africa Water is Life is a young, energetic group of activists who are geared and ready to promote this issue and this Bucket specifically. They've teamed up with World Hope International who will be drilling the well. WHI also has trained staff in Liberia who are ready to install the wells and train the community members on how to maintain the well. They've also trained the community in best practices of sanitation such as proper hand washing and using clean water buckets etc.

Impact

Water sources are muddy, and women have to make 3-4 trips daily to fill their buckets. Water sources run dry during the period March to June each year during the dry season.  Hundreds of thousands of Liberians die each year from one of six main water-related diseases typhoid fever, cholera and diarrhea, including poliomyelitis. Safe water and sanitation remain vital to the health, education, employment and wellbeing of Liberians. Providing people with clean, safe water greatly reduces disease and water-borne illness and promotes wellness.

Not only that, but having local, clean water to be used for drinking, cooking and agriculture, the women no longer have to walk hours and hours, miles and miles for water leaving time for school and money-making opportunities. 

Propriety

Astonishing statistics reveal that the St. John River district—in which Zinc Camp is located—has a population of 14,874 and only 4 hand pumps, putting the average number of people per hand pump at over 3,000.  In addition, the Comprehensive Food Security and Nutritional Survey in 2006 estimated access to improved water in the Grand Bassa County (in which Zinc Campis located) at a mere 10%. In a survey of 20 communities (including Zinc Camp) conducted in 2009, the overwhelming response to the most pressing need is the provision of safe drinking water. The community has applied for this well. They need fresh water and they are willing to partner with organizations like WHI to make sure that a well will be cared for and fair distribution of water will be supervised. 

Sustainability

The communities that receive the wells are trained by local WHI staff on the upkeep and maintenance of the well if parts are needed or it breaks down. It is understood that once installed, the community is responsible for the well. Once the well goes in, WHI staff are in contact with the recipient village to make sure the well continues to function.

The wells WHI drill can be as deep as 200 feet below the ground which means they provide safe water and will not dry up like hand dug wells do during the dry season. Deep wells such as these provide water for a village for about 20 years if it is maintained correctly. By giving the community ownership of the well, it will maximize the effect it can have over a long period of time.