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Environmental Sustainability/Water

Water for Life/Water for All: Niger

Photo: Nagarta

Church World Service assists communities in their quest for clean water sources and advocates to public officials on behalf of water as a basic human right. In southeastern Niger, in West Africa, for example, 465 households – 1,863 people – in Maito village are gaining access to clean water for household and farming use, with the help of CWS and local partner NAGARTA. Nagarta is a Hausa word meaning “well-being.” This project is part of the CWS Water for Life/Water for All program, and is targeting areas in the Sahel – a region of unpredictable rain patterns in northwestern Africa – and other parts of Africa for development of community water sources.

The Maito community organized three teams to help hand-dig a well and construct the protective cement apron. It took 27 days to dig about 90 feet down to water level. Four other villages in the area heard about the well and sent five people each to Maito to help with the construction. They are hoping to also improve water resources in their own villages. “Thanks to the new well and the increased cultivation, we have more food for our family,” says Elhadj Moumouni, of Maito village, “and we are able to sell the extra to gain a little income.”