Project Launch: 9-17-14

Mboure-Sally is a small agricultural-based community of approximately 120 ethnic Wolofs. The Mboure Women's Group is organized around a community garden that functions both for income generation and increasing local food security. The women collect and carry water from a 26-meter deep well, a very labor intensive and time consuming process. In addition, the community only has one latrine (used only by one man) and thus the rest of population must practice open defecation, which increases the likelihood of disease spread and water contamination.

World Connect is supporting the building of a water-feeding basin for the community garden and one latrine per household compound in Mboure-Sally. The water basin will increase the women’s productivity in managing the community garden, adding more nutritious foods and increasing food security, and improving the women’s group’s prospects for generating income from their garden. The six latrines, coupled with community education efforts led by the women’s group and the local Peace Corps Volunteer, should effectively end open defecation in the community, particularly important to protect water sources and limit the spread of disease.

 

Project Update

The water-feeding basin has been built and four latrines have been constructed. Community members received training on sustainable watering techniques, hand-washing, sanitation, and maintenance of latrines. The water-feeding basin has been an enormous success for the village. The women are now using watering cans instead of pouring full pans of water onto garden beds. As a result of increased water access, the garden has increased in size and has an abundance of vegetables, improving food security and nutrition in the village. The community was so excited by the basin that they pooled money from their first harvest to buy an inner tube balloon that can hold six-times more water than a normal bucket. They alternate using different households' horses for pulling water with the balloon each night.

 

Testimonials

"Last year I only had a 4 square meter garden plot. This year the water is so much easier I can garden a 7 square meter plot. I have planted more and plan to use those vegetables for my children to eat. I will be able to sell more too." - Awa, Project Participant

 

"The women are able to have bigger gardening plots because of the water-feeding basin. This means they will have more money. They can spend that on their children. The latrines have made the village cleaner for the children. We are happy to have the latrines. They make the village beautiful." - Saliou, Project Leader