The road ends before reaching the village and the village had to cut a path for the drilling rig and water tank. The tanker, pictured below turned over. That delayed the drilling.
To get there, we cross a river (link to video) and bounce through mud holes and ruts that are more like trenches. (link to video here) But once we arrive, the vista from a hilltop is fabulous. (video)
People appear to greet us and show us their well. They pumped water. Some of us did too. (video 2)
We have a plaque to commemorate the well and to link our communities together in the accomplishment of a community managed water system at the center of the village. Here is John Lentz making the presentation. (Presentation video)
We retreat from the sun to the church, a meeting hall that served the village for any gathering. There, with help from our interpreter, questions are asked by a both the village leaders and us. We here how much clean water close at hand for most of the village meant to families. They were working to carry out the management responsibilities for the well and also to increase the households with latrines. It was obvious that the "animators," those teachers and organizers who came to the village from Pignon many, many times, are village heroes. Theirs is the transforming work in this process.
Seeing the children gathered for a picture in front of the well, inspires hope that these bright-eyed kids will have a better chance at growing up healthy and strong; that they will learn by their experience how to act together for the benefit of their whole community. That, after all, is what community development for clean water is really about.
--kjl
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