For several months we have shown four projects at the foot of our home page: the villages of Binhome, Bissunaga, Quedet and Tama. These are the four villages we have worked with during the dry season from Autumn 2016 to early Summer 2017.

Its now time for an update as the first year’s work is now complete.

As usual we will support these villages for a further two years to ensure that the villages are self-sufficient but for now its encouraging to read what has been achieved in the first year.

And check back on our home page in a few days time. We will update the “Current Projects” to show the villages we will be working with in the coming year.

Binhome is a rural village in the north of Guinea-Bissau with a population of 447.

• Before WellFound started work there were five bucket and pulley wells. However these were in poor condition and in urgent need of attention. Several produced contaminated water and others were running out of water. There were no communal toilets; just pits in some houses. Due to the lack of water and sanitation facilities, health was on a consistent decline.
• Now there is a working well with a pump and clean water; 23 latrines have been provided as part of a community-led total sanitation (CLTS) programme; one market garden is in use and the village has had a successful first harvest. A quote from a villager: “having the pump in the middle of the village means we now feel connected with each other.” This illustrates a common point which is that clean water also improves social interaction.
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Bissunaga is a slightly larger rural village with a population of 2,337

• Before WellFound arrived there were three existing wells: two dugout wells near the paddy rice field area and one old pump in a well built by the Portuguese in 1739. The wells were not in good condition and the water was often contaminated. These wells did not serve the whole community. There was no communal toilet although there were pits in some houses. Malaria and malnutrition were prevalent.
• Now there is one working well with a pump producing clean water. 37 latrines have been provided as part of CLTS programme. There is one market garden in good condition and well organised. There has been a complete transformation in this village. A quote from a female villager: ” I feel so proud that now I can use the latrine whenever I want and don’t have to wait until the next day early morning to go into the bushes.”
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Quedet is a small village with a population of 435

• Before WellFound started worked there were five existing bucket and pulley wells in the centre of the village. However, the wells were not in good condition and dried up quickly. There were four communal toilets but health was on a steady decline with high infant mortality.
• Now 21 latrines have been provided as part of a CLTS programme and there is one market garden which was very successful in the first season with a variety of vegetables.
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Tama is another small village in the north with a population of 653

• Before WellFound started work with the villagers there were no wells to provide clean water. There were open hand dug wells with dirty water which often led to diseases. There was no communal toilet although some houses had pit toilets. Health was on steady decline with diarrhoea and cholera.
• Now there is a new well with pump and clean water. 30 latrines have been built as part of CLTS programme. One market garden is in use and the first harvest has been taken.
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