Having water close at hand is a rarity in the Sahel, and in this way, Wouro Kellé is blessed. This village of more than 700 people sits on the banks of the Senegal River, in the fertile floodplain where irrigated rice production is possible, along with a wide range of other agricultural opportunities.
Women from the village wore traditional Pulaar attire to greet us during discussions about a new water system.
Andando first partnered with this community through a women’s garden, which has become phenomenally successful. But despite the abundance around them, the village still lacks something even more critical: safe drinking water.
Water in the garden comes directly from the Senegal River. This is fine for growing vegetables, but it is far from potable.
Families from Wouro Kelle rely upon the river for their drinking water.
Few families have the money to purchase bottled water, and when the floods cut off access, even that costly option disappears, leaving the people here no choice but to drink directly from the river.
Wouro Kellé’s former water filtration system, which proved to be inadequate and unable to be maintained in such a rural setting.
An earlier effort tried to solve this issue with a sophisticated filtration system, but its output was limited from the start, and it ultimately couldn’t be maintained. This past fall, the village was left once again in an all-too-familiar situation, as Oumou Aw explains:
Oumou Aw explained the impacts of unsafe water on her community while showing us her plot in the women’s cooperative garden.
“Since the time of our ancestors up to now we are drinking from the river. When we drink the water, it gives us diarrhea. At the beginning of every rainy season, we suffer from diarrhea. This affects every household, and after the rainy season, the water is full of germs and bacteria.”
With the need so urgent, we were thrilled to find a new partner in Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, who stepped forward to help us pursue a lasting solution for Wouro Kellé.
Andando recently brought in technicians from the regional capital to conduct a groundwater survey ahead of drilling a new well.
Together, this month, we will break ground on a new borehole well and solar pump system, bringing clean water to all 700 residents, as well as the village’s school and health clinic. We can’t wait to share the possibilities that arise for such a resilient and ambitious community.
