Myra's Wells

Providing Clean Water in West Africa

Registered Charity Number 1143345

100% of donations goes to well projects

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“I’m so happy to have clean water!”

17th March 2020 by mark

This is about a lady who showed that she is very happy to have clean water near to where she lives.

A large village without enough water

The lady lives in a part of a large sprawling village of about 3700 people. Many of them are cattlemen. Their livelihood depends on being able to keep the cattle healthy. However, the water situation for many of them was desperate.

Happy to have clean water

Most of the people relied on an open well. These open wells are better than nothing. And the water from it will be suitable for the cattle. But these wells often dry up or become too dirty for human consumption.

Happy to have clean water

The nearest drilled well was 5 km away. It is one with an interesting pump mechanism. Even so, if they walked to this pump, it was usual to have to wait in a queue for up to three hours before having a turn to use it. The round trip would have taken, perhaps, 6 hours.

A full time job trying to find water

This is what the request form told us:

The women are always looking for water and they do not have the opportunity to develop other activities which would allow them to support their husbands in schooling the children. The children are also always looking for water to help their mothers and are absent, or late to school.

Happiness, then disappointment

So, if somebody came and drilled a well nearer to where they lived, you can imagine that they would be very happy! Myra’s Wells decided that this village should be next on the list for a well. In the goodness of God, the first borehole was successful. The borehole is 100 metres deep.

At first, the people were happy – but there was a problem. The water table was also deep and that meant that the pump was too heavy for some people to use.

happy to have clean water

Christine asked us about it. “Would we consider a solar powered pump?” Well, there is no point in having a good borehole unless the people can use it. So, we agreed. Now, there is a small tank which is filled from the borehole. The manual pump has gone – we will use that at another village. The solar powered pump keeps the tank full and there is a tap for the people to use to fill their containers with clean water. The solar panels are very efficient. Even when there is little sun, they still power the pump – which is very useful in the rainy season.

They are happy to have clean water

So, how did this lady show that she is happy to have clean water near to where she lives? Click here to watch the short video clip. Of the 3700 people in the whole village, over 1000 live close enough to the tap to be able to use it easily.

Our promise

Every penny given to Myra’s Wells is, and will be, used to fund wells in Burkina Faso. All other costs are paid by trustees personally. This link shows the full list of wells that we have provided.

Filed Under: News

Donate with Stewardship You can also CLICK HERE to download a PDF form to make regular monthly donations. Please print out, fill in and send to us by post.

Children at Well

If you can help provide clean water in Burkina Faso, 100% of your gift will be used for well construction GUARANTEED.

CONTACT US
72 Oakhurst Road, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 0DR, UK

Tel: 01202 892548

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Who are we?

Our charity provides life-saving water wells in Burkina Faso – one of the poorest countries in West Africa. A few places do have mains water, but even that supply lacks purity.
100% of donations received go to pay for wells. The Trustees in the UK and Burkina Faso receive no remuneration for their work. The salaries of the two administrative staff employed in Burkina Faso are paid by the UK Trustees, or using funds specifically donated for this purpose.

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How to Donate

You can also make donations or set up regular giving online via Stewardship, CAF, Virgin Giving.
For more information call Eddie or Karen on
01202 892548 or email us at info@myraswells.org
Myra’s Wells, 72 Oakhurst Road,
West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 0DR

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