Clean Water for Sierra Leone
This project was launched in January 2009 by two members of the Costa del Sol Club with the purpose of raising money to finance wells, water cleansing equipment and renovated hospital equipment for Sierra Leone – and welcomed the participation of Soroptimist clubs in Spain, Denmark, England and, of course, Freetown (4 friendship links).
Background told by Jytte Dam and Bente Lerche Christensen.
We had been informed by the Freetown Soroptimist Club that there was an extreme lack of clean drinking water in the Freetown area – as in the rest of Sierra Leone. We then asked the Freetown Club to contact water specialists, authorities and communities to work out a proposal for wells and to recommend a location for the first well.
When the idea of such a project was presented to the Costa del Sol Club, they immediately backed the project and made the first contribution of 1,000 Euro.
Thereafter we contacted the Copenhagen North Club – who also have a friendship link with our club – and asked if they would be the focal point for an appeal to all other Danish Soroptimist Clubs. This they accepted without hesitation and after e-mails were sent to all Danish clubs, donations for the Sierra Leone project flooded into the account opened for this purpose.
During the past months there has been a steady stream of funds coming in and by end of 2009 a total of 27.000 Euros had been raised with contributions from 25 clubs in Europe.
In cooperation with water specialists and local authorities, the Freetown Club chose the location for the first well - a plot belonging to a school for handicapped children in Kissy Mess Mess on the outskirts of Freetown.
On the 27 June 2009, a ceremony was held to mark the start of the digging and construction of the well at the project site in Kissy Mess Mess. Speeches were given by the President of the Freetown Soroptimist Club, Fatmata Cole, and the Councillor of the community, Mr Koroma, who thanked the club for their commitment to provide this valuable service to the community. This ceremony was also attended by the Chief of the area, by dignitaries and a cross section of the community itself who will later take over the responsibility for the maintenance of the well. This well will provide clean drinking water for approximately 500 families who, until now, only had drinking water from polluted wells.
Status of Well No 1
This project is scheduled to be finished soon – following the installation of a pump and the building of a fence around the well to protect it from vandals. Most of the money for this well has been transferred to Sierra Leone and the balance will be forwarded as soon as we receive confirmation from the Freetown Club that the project has been completed.
Well No 2
The location for this well has been designated - Sumaila Town - also on the outskirts of Freetown. However, before construction begins on this well, the Freetown Club is awaiting confirmation from SALWACO, the company responsible for wells in Sierra Leone, that the water at this site is fit for consumption.
The Future
“As there are funds available for more wells, we have asked Freetown to start identifying further suitable locations.
We very much look forward to continuing this essential and worthwhile project which has attracted so much goodwill and attention. It is a project with participating clubs from four countries on two continents.
N.B. At the start of this project we had considered investing in water cleansing equipment in addition to the building of wells but realised this would involve much technical expertise. We therefore decided that the money would be better spent on the construction of wells alone.
However, we have not given up our quest for renovated hospital equipment from Denmark and, to that end, we have asked for lists of requirements from hospitals in Freetown. Thus far two hospitals have responded with their lists. We shall keep you informed on this aspect of our links with Sierra Leone.”