Children and adults who drew water from the hand-dug well in Monclay Town were often plagued by diarrhea, thanks to potentially deadly parasites that could easily enter the well through its wide opening.

The problem in the Liberian village became especially acute during the rainy season when dirty floodwater would pour into the well.

“It increases the spread of waterborne diseases and therefore causes the death of some children under five years old,” community leaders told us while asking for a new and better well.

Your donations enabled Lifewater to respond – drilling a well, installing a durable hand-pump, and surrounding the well with a secure concrete pad to guard against surface-water contamination. In the photo below, villagers celebrate the "grand opening" of their new well by decorating it with colorful balloons and ribbons. We also provided health and hygiene workshops to help everyone learn how to combat disease.

Now, Monclay Town’s leaders tell us that children who used to be plagued by diarrheal diseases and fighting for their lives are regularly attending school and enjoying much better times with their families.

Your donations enabled us to replace a similar hand-dug well – this one even more susceptible to surface-water contamination – in a community called Acres of Hope.

Please enable more communities to receive the safe drinking water they desperately need. Donate today.