Tassobon is a village composed of 10 small
hamlets spread out over an area of about 3 kilometers (2 miles)
with a total population of around 1,000 people. Yaye Kwaara,
the hamlet I live in, is the largest of all the hamlets. The
maigari (village leader) is located in here, as well as the
locally elected representative, the schools, and the single
potable well.
Access to drinkable water in my village is a serious problem.
During the peak times of the day (early morning and late afternoon)
the wait for a bucket of water can be over 45 minutes. Then
the women will carry the water back to their homes as far
as 20 minutes away; that’s for one bucket of drinkable
water. The large amount of time and energy women must devote
to providing their families with drinkable water means they
are often unable to participate in sensibilizations, small
income generating projects, or even attend village meetings.
It also means that often villagers will drink from hand-dug
wells or the lake, increasing their risk of ingesting water-borne
pathogens.
Pita Lacenski learning to plant trees
in Niger. Trees are important to
stem the advance of the Sahara
Desert, which makes up most of the
north of Niger. |
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I met with a well digger in Gaya, my regional center, about
digging a well in Tassobon. The cost of digging a well in
my village will be $7,000. Moreover, I met with a NGO (Non
Governmental Organization) in Gaya and talked to them about
the water situation in Tassobon. We came to an agreement that
if I get a well built, the NGO will also build a well. They
will wave the obligatory cash percentage a village must provide
for labor instead. The villagers of Tassobon would actually
be building their own wells. What’s most important is
the NGO will leave the well molds they use with the villagers
so they will then have both the knowledge to build more wells
and the molds necessary to do the work. The volunteer previous
to myself was able to get two classrooms built in Tassobon
using this same approach.
I am now trying to raise $7,000 to build a well in Tassobon.
I am asking you all to please help me in raising the money.
I know $7,000 is a lot of money. I also realize that there
is not a lot of time to raise this money in. I’d like
to get all $7,000 by the end of September so I will be here
to see the project through to the end. With the help of all
of you, I believe it can be done. 100% of the money donated
goes to the well project. Of course the money will be going
to more than just one well. It will be going to help the villagers
of Tassobon acquire the knowledge and tools to provide themselves
with potable drinking water for generations to come.
My mother is the person who will be looking for donations
for me in the States and then sending it to me here in Niger.
If you with to contribute, please
click here to visit our contributions page.
Pita Lacenski
Peace Corps Volunteer, Niger, Africa
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