The work of Tearfund teams with local partners often produces the simplest of results, such as a growing awareness of a health issue or help in creating an income. In these two cases from Africa the result was the supply or safe, reliable water. Yet simple outcomes do not mean limited benefits: for the communities in Mali and Somalia the work that is made possible by the prayer and financial support of Tearfund’s supporters has literally changed their lives.
In the region of Timbuktu, Mali, the local water project has introduced a range of benefits to the villages in which new water supplies have been introduced. People no longer have to get up very early in the morning to travel to different villages several kilometres away to draw water from their wells, exposing themselves to danger along the way.
Instead they now have their own source of water at home, where they do not have to wait all day while others take their turn. In fact now people are coming to them to draw water. The well has left the women free to carry out other activities, and preventable illnesses are reducing in one village (Alhakoum) thanks to clean water supplies.
Meanwhile, the Mdoa community water catchment project in Somalia created plenty of expectation and excitement as people waited for the coming rains. Those living in the coastal villages of Mdoa and Chula had been using salty and contaminated water for years, resulting in devastating harm to their health. Diarrhoea, skin rashes and infections have been the common to many.
But this is no longer the case. Mdoa and Chula experienced the hoped-for heavy rains in April and May, filling the 144,000l water catchments to capacity. The result? There is fresh water to drink and use for cooking. Locals have also had the chance to interact with project workers through the construction work and there is the potential of yet more development work in the future.