Water, Health & Women's Empowerment- Guinea Bissau

Cali is a small village with a total population of 408 people.

In July 2017, before starting work, Cali lacked access to fresh clean water, had very poor sanitation facilities and no access to nutritious food. People had to rely on an open spring for drinking water, and this spring was shared with animals. Children were carrying water for long distances back to the village and as a result did not have time to attend school. The rate of water-related disease was alarming and many villagers were malnourished.

Our approach:

The community was consulted and engaged to devise a plan on how the facilities were to be used and maintained long term. A Community Development Group and a Health Promotion Group, comprising all sections of the community, were set up. Regular financial contributions towards a Village Saving Scheme were agreed. The community decided the location of the well and the market garden and agreed to build individual family latrines.

Outcome:

An evaluation visit was made in February 2018 and the village is completely transformed.

• The villagers have access to fresh clean water provided through a pipe in the middle of the village rather than an open spring.
• The community is now declared “Open Defecation Free" (a status given by the Government) where all members of the community now have their own latrines which they use.
• A market garden is being run and a variety of vegetables are now harvested improving their nutritional intake. Women have increased their income through selling vegetables at market
• A “Village Saving Scheme” is in place with regular savings to address any maintenance issues with the facilities.
• 6 young girls are trained in basic health and hygiene and are training to take the learning further
• A small makeshift school has been built by the community by our health promotion worker to teach children basic health and hygiene and also basic literacy and numeracy.

Key statistics:

• Number of individual latrines constructed 20
• Number of health and hygiene training events 21
• Number of equality workshops delivered 22
• Total people benefited 408
• Total women been trained in horticulture 64
• Women trained in management: 6

Further plans:

WellFound will continue to support this village with their health promotion and agriculture for at least another 2-3 years to ensure that the benefit is really rooted within the community. This way we ensure that the community is self-sustained and will progress free from disease and poverty. Cali clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when members of the community and WellFound’s staff work together for the benefit of all.