Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) Secures Access to Safe Drinking Water for 10,000 people in West Africa
- ajoyce140
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
Water scarcity is a disturbing reality that plagues billions across the globe. In a world of excess and surplus, it’s a shocking fact that 5.52 billion people in 186 countries face water insecurity today. While our children enjoy splashing carelessly at splash pads as we water our lawns, over 400 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa struggle to survive daily, tackling the numerous obstacles arising from a lack of access to safe drinking water.
The issues arising from this scarcity are multi-layered and impact 1 in 3 Africans on many levels. The statistics surrounding this issue are endless: 80% of diseases in Africa are linked to poor sanitation and unsafe water; approximately two-thirds of Africa is considered arid; due to the impact of climate change, droughts and unpredictable or intense weather patterns dry up lakes, boreholes and rivers; in the search for water, females spend 200 million hours daily collecting water; agriculture consumes 85–93% of water withdrawals in West Africa, indicating the ripple effects access to water has on food security and economic stability; the list goes on.
In response to this unbearable reality, Life for Relief and Development USA (LIFE) has embarked upon a water projects initiative that secures access to safe drinking water for approximately 10,000 people. This project spanned across West Africa, starting on the 31st of October 2024, with the grand opening in the seven locations occurring between the 7th and the 17th of December 2024. As a result, two water wells were dug in Gambia, serving 1800 individuals, two in Senegal, serving 2650 and three in Mali, securing access to drinking water for 5400 people. Rural locations were chosen for these wells as they lacked the necessary infrastructure, limiting water access, and thus resulting in the population’s weakened nutrition, health, quality of life and life expectancy.
We could continue listing the detrimental impact that water scarcity has on millions, telling you factually how the lives of the beneficiaries have vastly improved. Instead, let’s grant this space to the voices of those who have received these incredible gifts. Here you can peek behind the curtains and see for yourself just how much the donations and efforts made by the donors and the team at LIFE have affected the members of these communities.
Firstly, let’s introduce you to Fama Diawara, a mother of four, who moved to her husband’s village at the age of 19.
“That was 17 years ago, and in all that time, not a single day has passed without us struggling for water. Every day, I walk long distances to fetch water, carrying heavy buckets back to my family. I do this for my children, for my husband’s family, for our survival. But at what cost? By the time I turned 25, I began to feel unbearable pain in my back—a burden I still carry, just like those buckets of water.
This struggle has shaped my life in ways I can never forget. Imagine spending hours each day searching for something as basic as water, knowing that your children are waiting for you at home, thirsty, with no other options. It is a reality I’ve endured for almost two decades.
Today, standing here next to this well, I feel something I haven’t felt in years: relief. This well will not only quench our thirst but will also ease the pain I’ve carried for so long. It will save my strength and my health and allow me to give more time to my children and my family.
To those who made this possible, I cannot thank you enough. You haven’t just brought us water; you’ve brought us hope, dignity, and a better future.”
A moving account by Fama, that echoes the colossal impact these wells have had on thousands, thanks to LIFE’s water well projects.
Now let’s see the effect these wells have had on the youth, from the perspective of Hawa – a 16-year-old who has felt anchored down by her responsibilities as the only daughter in her family of 8, burdened with the domestic chore of fetching water.
“The well is far from our home, and it takes so much time and energy to draw enough for the day. After that, I rush back, eat breakfast quickly, and head to school. But most days, I’m late, exhausted and already behind before the first lesson even begins.
Fetching water isn’t easy. The buckets are heavy, and the long walk leaves me drained before the day has even started. Sometimes I wonder if my dreams of finishing school and becoming someone who can help my village are slipping away with every step I take to that distant well.
Everything changed when the new well was installed near our house. Now, we just open a tap and the water flows—clean, fresh, and easy to collect. It feels like a miracle. For the first time in my life, I wake up knowing I won’t have to carry that heavy burden so far. I arrive at school on time, my mind ready to learn instead of worrying about the day’s chores.
This well hasn’t just brought water—it’s brought hope. Hope for my education, hope for my future, and hope for every girl in my village who can now dream bigger because the simple gift of water has given us the time and strength to pursue our dreams.
To those who made this possible, you have changed my life and the lives of so many others. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
While these are the stories of just two individuals, their voices capture the drastic impact that these wells have had on the lives of at least 9,850 people across West Africa. Thank you for the gift of hope, dignity and dreams that you have granted thousands.
