How far do you go to get water?

Typical water transport in Africa includes a bucket of some sort and sturdy feet. Walking a mile or more each way to collect water for drinking, watering animals and crops, or for cleaning and washing is not uncommon.

If you are lucky, you might have advanced water transport, like the men above with their oxen.

No matter where you go, be prepared to stand on line and wait your turn, to collect dirty water.

This small spring serves 100 villagers and their live stock, not to mention the local wildlife and plants.

A rain water collection system is wonderful for the family of 10 that built this system, when it rains. Large swaths of Africa are in drought and many places have rainy and dry seasons where six months is without rain.

Provided you can get your hands on the materials, an advanced rain water system with storage is great. According to the  U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Science for Schools program, the average American person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. With the barrels pictured full, an average American would last 6 to 8 days if they did not mind the oil and rust that come along with this system.

Drilling for water provides a longer term solution in Africa.

Well drilling is hard work.  After the drill has done it’s work, its up to hard-working hands and lots of buckets of dirt to do the rest.  The work is worth it to bring water right to the village, allowing women and girls to spend less time walking miles for water and more time with school and work that ultimately strengthens the family and community.

A trough is put in around wells to ensure that not a single drop of water is wasted. Without water, there is no survival for the villagers and the animals and plants that provide a livelihood as well as food.

When the well is complete, it is a splashing good time with safe, clean, local, ground water for everyone. And just think, donated shoes made this and many other wells possible! Use the easy online form to request a shoe drive or cell phone drive kit and get started today!