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Water & Sanitation Program
Overview:
Access to clean water and proper sanitation is essential for health, education, and overall quality of life. However, many underserved communities face challenges such as contaminated water sources, poor hygiene practices, and inadequate sanitation facilities. Mobilize Against Poverty (MAP) is committed to addressing these issues through sustainable clean water projects, hygiene education programs, and infrastructure development. Our goal is to ensure that every community member can access safe water and practice good hygiene, reducing the spread of waterborne diseases and improving overall well-being.
Clean Water Projects:
Community Boreholes and Wells:
- MAP constructs boreholes and wells in areas without reliable access to clean water. These water points are strategically placed for easy access by community members.
- Boreholes are equipped with hand pumps or solar-powered systems for efficient water retrieval.
Water Treatment Systems:
- We provide water purification tablets and train communities on simple techniques like boiling or filtering water.
- MAP also installs small-scale water treatment plants in communities with larger populations to ensure consistent access to clean water.
Rainwater Harvesting:
- Promoting the use of rainwater collection systems, especially in areas with seasonal rainfall, to supplement water needs for households, schools, and clinics.
- Installation of tanks and gutters to collect and store rainwater for safe use.
Infrastructure Maintenance:
- Training local water committees to maintain and repair water infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability of the projects.
- Establishing systems for community contributions to support maintenance efforts.
Hygiene Education:
Community Hygiene Workshops:
- Regular workshops to teach proper handwashing techniques, safe food preparation, and waste disposal.
- Demonstrations on how to set up simple handwashing stations using locally available materials.
School-Based Hygiene Programs:
- Educating students about hygiene practices, including handwashing, menstrual hygiene, and maintaining clean surroundings.
- Providing hygiene kits to schools, which include soap, sanitary pads, and water containers.
Sanitation Facility Development:
- Constructing gender-sensitive toilets in schools, marketplaces, and public areas to ensure privacy and safety.
- Encouraging households to build latrines using affordable and sustainable materials.
Behavior Change Campaigns:
- Community outreach through posters, radio programs, and drama groups to promote the importance of hygiene and sanitation.
- Special campaigns during global observances like World Water Day and Global Handwashing Day.
Success Stories:
A Life-Changing Borehole for Kamara Town:
Before MAP installed a borehole in Kamara Town, women and children had to walk long distances to fetch water from a contaminated river. Since the installation, the community now has access to clean, safe water right in their village. Haja Turay, a local resident, shared, “Our children no longer fall sick from dirty water, and we have more time to focus on our farms and families.”Empowering Girls with Hygiene Kits:
In a rural school in Karene District, many girls missed classes due to the lack of sanitary pads and private washrooms. MAP provided hygiene kits and built gender-sensitive toilets at the school. Mariama Sesay, a 14-year-old student, said, “Now I feel comfortable coming to school even during my period. I can focus on my studies without worrying.”Transforming Health in Mabanta Village:
In Mabanta Village, MAP organized hygiene education sessions and introduced handwashing stations in homes and schools. Cases of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases dropped significantly. Abu Koroma, a local health worker, noted, “These simple changes have made a huge difference in our community’s health.”Sustainable Water for Mabel:
Mabel Kargbo, a mother of four, received training from MAP on maintaining the village’s new rainwater harvesting system. Now she helps oversee its use and ensures her family always has safe water. Mabel shared, “I feel proud to contribute to something that benefits everyone.”
