Wells

by | Apr 10, 2013 | Clean Water, Ghana

 Engage Now Africa has been hard at work since 2011 installing high quality wells that provide clean water to thousands of villagers in Northern Ghana. Northern Ghana is the poorest part of Ghana and our wells are located in three different districts 1-2 hours outside of Bolgatanga, Ghana. These areas were determined to be where villages need access to clean, continuous water most.
When ENA and Ayindisa, LLC. discovered that three out of five wells in these regions were not functioning and did not have any water in them they knew they had to react. Some wells have not worked for over a decade. Most of the existing wells were built with good intentions by local governments and other NGO’s, but without a proper plan or contractor so they only functioned for a brief time.
Below are pictures of the old, existing wells…
 Most were not functioning and if they were the water was not clean or safe to consume.
Process of Drilling Wells
ENA works with a drilling company in Ghana that specializes in digging high quality wells. They have a machine that locates water within each village and drills deep into the earth where the long term water supply is. This ensures year round water availability through both the dry and rainy seasons. They are guaranteed for life by the company and any needed maintenance or repairs are done with original manufactured parts by this company. The company also tests the water to make sure it is safe to drink once it is found. If the water that comes back from lab is determined to be unsafe then they provide the necessary medicine and treatments to ensure the water safe to drink.
Below are pictures showing the process of drilling the wells.
The best location for a long term water source is located and drilling begins.
Water is struck!
 
The site is capped off and a cement foundation is built around the site.
Once the foundation is set, a high quality pump is installed and clean water can be easily and continuously pumped as needed.
Well Maintenance
In order to ensure the wells are properly maintained, ENA organized community maintenance and well care taker committees that help keep the wells clean and in good working condition all year. The villages themselves donate time and some money to help with maintenance of parts so as to be responsible and invested owners of their wells. This pump was not charity. It is an investment and partnership with Engage Now Africa and the Community. Groups are typically organized in youth groups, adult groups and elderly groups so the whole village is involved and participating in keeping the well clean and safe from damage or abuse.
Ghana Well Timeline
Well 1: First Ghana bore hole well was completed and commissioned November 25th, 2011 in Yarkibisi, Ghana with donations from Engage Now Africa and Ayindisa, LLC. Wells 2-5 were all made possible by generous donations to Engage Now Africa. Well 2: completed March 11, 2013, outside Bolgatanga, Ghana. Well 3: completed March 12, 2013, Bongo Soe, Ghana. Well 4: completed March 13, 2013, Binbinibisi, Ghana. Well 5: completed March 26, 2013, Tondonsubego, Bolgatanga, Ghana.
Dedication Ceremony and Celebration
After each well is completed, ENA and villagers have a dedication ceremony followed by a celebration. One can only imagine the joy these villagers must feel after receiving such a life changing gift.
Below are pictures displaying the dedication ceremony for the well inYarkibisi, Ghana.
 
Villagers gather to demonstrate how it’s used and to celebrate!!
Villagers were overcome with joy for the life changing blessing of having easier access to clean water. After this particular dedication ceremony, a group of women and children gathered together to dance, celebrate and shout the phrase “water is life”!
This past March, Engage Now Africa & Ayindisa, LLC. staff did a follow up site visit to and check on the well in Yarkibisi, Ghana and meet with the community.
Below is the personal account of this visit by Chris Gay (Director of Operations for West Africa)…
 
“One year and 3 months has passed since this well was dedicated and it continues to pump an estimated 500-600 gallons of water a day. For two and a half hours I watched villagers, children, older women and men collect water to drink, wash, bathe and give it to their animals. The pump and water flowed non-stop. Water truly is life and this pump has changed the village in significant ways.
 
The first thing I noticed immediately was that the community had planted a garden at the end of the well where the excess water runoff is collected. It was beautiful to see this garden that never used to exist. Now the garden has pumpkins and other vegetables growing for the community to share and eat.
 
I also noticed how clean the whole area was and how good the pump looked and how it was still working.
 
 Older women told us how their backs do not hurt anymore because they are not carrying water for long distances. Parents and children told us how the can now bathe both in the morning and evening (before they could only bathe 1-2 times a month). This ability has especially made the children more awake and prepared for school as well as given them more time to play, work and study instead of wasting hours a day or missing school because they had to fetch water. They can wash their clothes much more frequently and easier, give water to their animals, drink freely for themselves and much more.”
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