By Lynn Malooly | Executive Director
Dear Friends of Water for South Sudan,
As I write to you from our offices in Rochester, New York, autumn is here, and the leaves are turning many beautiful colors. For us, autumn also means it's time to prepare for the next drilling season in South Sudan.
As the world's newest country, South Sudan has many struggles, including very little infrastructure. Our team in South Sudan is getting ready for their annual trip to Kampala, Uganda to buy drilling supplies and fuel. Our volunteer Operations Team in Rochester, NY is also working hard to prepare, including revising the design of our well platforms.
In February of 2015, our first formal well evaluation survey found that all 80 wells surveyed were in good working order and able to produce clean water. They also found, however, that the cement platforms around some of the wells were showing signs of erosion. Part of our plan for 2015-16 is to launch a pilot well rehabilitation team, which will go back to 20 of the wells most in need of platform repair and rebuild the cement platforms. We will also be using this new well platform design for the new wells we drill this year.
WFSS PLANS FOR 2015-16:
We know that clean water changes everything in South Sudan. When a village has access to clean water, women and girls no longer have to walk miles each day to collect water. Everyone is healthier, and villages can begin to grow and become more stable. Markets, schools and clinics can also grow if there is a sustainable source of fresh water nearby.
This past year, our well evaluation team met a woman, Arual, from Wunrok village. She had taken it upon herself to maintain the village well and to till the farm space next to it. She said she was grateful for the water because now she has time for farming and feeding her children. When asked what she wanted to grow, she said she will grow tomatoes and okra. When asked what makes her happy she said, “When I have food.”
Drilling wells. Transforming lives. That's what we do, thanks to supporters like you.
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