Clean Water Restored Through Life for Relief and Development (LIFE)’s Water Well Projects in Sierra Leone

Access to safe drinking water remains a major challenge for many rural communities across Sierra Leone. In villages without protected wells, families often rely on swamps, streams, or shallow ponds for their daily water supply. These sources are frequently contaminated and can lead to illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid, and skin infections. For many households, the burden of collecting water falls primarily on women and children, who may spend up to an hour walking long distances each day just to gather enough water for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. 

In communities near Lungi in Port Loko District, these challenges have affected daily life for years. Children often arrived late to school after long walks to collect water, while families faced recurring health problems linked to unsafe water sources. Limited access to clean water also meant that many residents spent valuable time fetching water rather than working, studying, or caring for their families. 

To address these urgent needs, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) completed two hand-pump water well projects in November and December 2025 in the villages of Kobaya and Kitonki near Lungi. The Kobaya Village well was opened on December 11, 2025, benefiting more than 1,000 residents, while the Kitonki Village well opened shortly after on December 12, 2025, serving approximately 1,040 people. These borehole wells now provide reliable access to clean drinking water within the communities, significantly improving sanitation, health, and daily living conditions. 

Families now have clean water available within their villages, reducing the long hours previously spent walking to unsafe sources. Children are better able to attend school on time, while mothers and caregivers can dedicate more time to income-generating activities and family care. The availability of safe water is also expected to reduce the spread of waterborne illnesses, helping communities maintain better health. 

For students like Mariama Kamara, the new well has transformed daily life. Before the project, she often woke up before sunrise to collect water from a swamp and sometimes arrived late to school. Now, the water is only minutes away, allowing her to attend class on time and focus on her studies. 

Community leaders have also witnessed the difference. Chief Imam Shaik Samba Jalloh, a village leader in Kitonki, explained that the shortage of water once caused tension among residents competing for limited supplies. With the new well, those conflicts have eased, and families feel a sense of peace within their community. 

Mothers such as Kadiatu Bangura, who previously spent hours collecting water each day, now have time to pursue small income-generating activities that help support their children’s education and household needs. 

Through the generous LIFE donors who made these projects possible, more than 2,000 people in Sierra Leone now have access to clean and reliable water. A resource that will strengthen health, education, and opportunity long into the future.