During the Sierra Leone-Plymouth

Partnership’s 2006 trip to Sierra

Leone, it was discovered that the

three villages totaling 5,000 people had only one

protected water well and several unprotected wells.

Repairing existing wells and digging new ones

became a top priority. Our goal is to continue to

measurably improve the water situation each year,

with the ultimate goal of assuring convenient access to

clean water year-round for all 5,000 people. I was happy

to be part of this effort on the May 2007 trip.

Many of us take water for granted, but imagine needing

to take a vessel to a watering hole blocks from your

home to dip for water, then transporting it home balanced

on your head. During the dry season, you’d need to walk

even farthur – two miles to a stream or pond to get your

water for drinking and washing. These sources have

various contaminants, and it takes tremendous effort and

time to haul the water, but you have no choice. Worms

and diarrhea, along with one of the world’s highest rates

of child mortality, are an everyday reality.

Working closely with the village water committees and

in-country experts, SLPP repaired three wells in 2006. In

2007, SLPP funded three new protected wells and

repairs of a flawed government well, adding four wells

that now provide safe drinking water year-round. The

United Nations and Sierra Leone government have built

two additional wells. Each village now has three or four

protected wells for an average of 1,700 residents – a

tremendous improvement from only 12 months ago. We

work closely with the village water committees so that

people are trained to maintain the wells, assuring that the

water will stay clean and available for decades to come.

Safe, clean water is the most effective way to improve

basic health, especially among young children. Better

health means kids can attend school more often and

farmers can focus more time on growing the food their

families need. Given the intense labor demands of their

subsistence farming, saving 40 minutes with a convenient

well – compared with walking two miles to a watering

hole – is a huge productivity improvement.

Living with a family in the village and experiencing one

of the world’s poorest countries was an eye-opening and

life-changing experience for me. The people are warm,

friendly, appreciative and eager to learn. Living without

electricity, transportation, clean water and sanitation is

the everyday existence for our village friends. They

greatly appreciate the generosity of Plymouth and

supportive friends. Our work together profoundly impacts

both villager and traveler in wonderful ways. Consider a

visit in 2008 with SLPP. We go with God’s love!