By Sariba Manneh
In a bid to provide adequate, clean and safe drinking water to vulnerable communities within the country, Foundation 221, an international charitable organisation, recently inaugurated twenty-five boreholes in twenty-five different communities within the West Coast Region.
The beneficiary communities are Giboroh Pam, Giboroh Amdali, Mandinaba, NemaMisira, Kartong, Kunkujang, Sanyang, Jambuur, KafutaNema, ToubaManduar, BojangKunda, BrikamaGidda, Madiana, Gunjur Kunkujang, NyofellehMandina, Jalanbang, Bullock, Taneni, Kembujeh, Kachumeh, Fula Kunda, Bafuloto, Busumbala and Lamin.
In his presentation, Muhammed Marong, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Foundation, said the project is aimed at complementing government’s efforts in ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to potable water.
“Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right for every person irrespective of race, tribe and geographical location. Therefore, we deem it necessary to donate water to the vulnerable,” he said.
He said the project is significant in lessening water challenges faced by residents within these communities, and urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the boreholes and put sustainability mechanisms in place to prolong its services.
He said the foundation is committed to contribute to societal development, stating that it has several initiatives that immensely support the poor. He referred to the ‘Back to School’ project, Ramadan and Tobaski packages among others, for communities.
Lamin Singhateh, the PRO of Brikama Area Council, described the project as laudable, in view of the challenges faced by residents in accessing clean potable water. He said the water facility will immensely help residents and said there is greater need for several youth to emulate the foundation in giving back to society. He called on the foundation to help provide more water facilities for the communities, saying most communities in WCR lack access to sufficient clean drinking water.
“Many parts of WCR are battling with water constraints. However, the donated borehole will now mitigate the water challenges faced by residents,” he said.
Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, the National Assembly Member for Brikama North and Minority Leader, expressed similar remarks.
“Before having this borehole, our women used to fetch water from open and uncovered wells, which was so challenging for both women and men,” he said. He advised the beneficiary communities to take good care of the boreholes.
The Alkalos and VDCs of beneficiary villages commended the Foundation for providing clean drinking water for their communities.
“We are happy with the foundation for the gesture, and we assure them that the beneficiary communities will take good care of the boreholes, as well as put sustainability measures in place in order to prolong the services provided by the facilities,” the Alkalos and members of the VDC said.
The women representative from the beneficiary communities also expressed delight for the Foundation on behalf of women organisations in these beneficiary communities for the boreholes.
“We the women used to cross the highway to fetch water from taps that are far from our homes. But now this has stopped because we will no longer fetch water from long distances,” they added. They called on all and sundry to provide more boreholes for more villagers as well as bring series of development to the doorsteps of vulnerable communities.
