Our teams on the ground in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger work directly with communities to provide immediate access to safe drinking water while also laying the groundwork for long-term change. Our approach is three-pronged:
We quickly assess the current situation in a community: is water readily available and, if so, is it safe to drink? If there is an urgent need for clean water, we truck it in. Otherwise, we distribute materials such as water purification tablets, portable water filters and gas-powered stovetops for water boiling.
Working with local governments where possible, we present information to remote communities that helps them:
- Independently purify or filter drinking water where needed
- Identify waterborne diseases and prevent their spread
- Divide and manage water resources among the community
In consultation with remote communities, we draw up a long-term action plan that will create water security and improve health outcomes. Our goal is to provide each community with:
- A reliable source of water for drinking and washing (either from a well or river) and the means to clean that water
- Sanitation facilities (including handwashing facilities) that minimize the spread of disease
- A plan for sustainable agricultural activities, including the installation of irrigation infrastructure if needed
