Myra's Wells

Providing Clean Water in West Africa

Registered Charity Number 1143345

100% of donations goes to well projects

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Spot the difference at Simtenga

23rd December 2020 by mark

Simtenga is a small village in Burkina Faso in West Africa. It is typical of many small villages in Burkina Faso, even though it is not far from a town. Life can be very hard here. Myra’s Wells has recently made it a little easier.

You won’t have to look too hard to spot the difference that has been made at Simtenga!

How it used to be

In villages like this, water can be a major problem. Simtenga was no different! These pictures show the open well, 2 km from where most of the people live. It is here that they had to come to fetch water.

  • Spot the difference
  • Spot the difference
spot the difference

As you can imagine, the water from this well is dirty. For the privilege of having dirty water, the ladies (it is always the ladies) had to risk their lives by standing on the narrow wall which surrounds the well. It must be very slippery when it gets wet. Imagine standing there and looking down into the murky water.

Now imagine drinking the water, cooking with it and washing in it – washing yourself and your clothes.

Was there no other way of obtaining water?

If the ladies had 3 or 4 hours to spare, they were able to walk to a school 3 km away and use the pump there. However, as with so many pumps at schools, it was locked while school was in progress. Even when they could use it, they might have to wait for 2 hours for their turn. Hence, 3 or 4 hours to fetch water, probably twice a day. The open well was easier.

Help is on its way

One day, one of the Myra’s Wells volunteers arrived with a piece of paper in his hand. Some of the people sat with him as he went through the questions that we always ask about the circumstances at the villages. We don’t have unlimited funds, so we have to try to choose the most needy places to be first on our list for wells.

We decided Simtenga was near the top of the list. Christine made the arrangements and, this October, a drill arrived in the village. God blessed the drilling. After about 6 hours, the drill struck water – sustainable enough to supply 3000 litres per hour.

Spot the difference now!

So, here is the new well. Spot the difference! The photographer took this picture just before the evening rush started. It is difficult to get children (or even adults) to smile in Burkina Faso. However, we know that having clean water makes them very happy. Not only is it clean water, it is quicker – and safer – to fill the containers at the pump.

Simtenga is well number 181 on our full list of wells. As a Christian charity, we give praise to God for His blessing enabling us to help so many people. We guarantee that we will use all donations 100% for well projects in Burkina Faso. Trustees pay all other expenses personally.

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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