Drinking clean water remains a pipe dream for millions in Liberia.
Tearfund is working with partners and the local church in remote areas of the West African country to make this dream a reality.
The Koninga people are the latest to enjoy access to a basic service that most of us take for granted.
They live in remote communities deep in the rainforests in Gbarpolu county, an area that has received little humanitarian help since Liberia’s civil war ended four years ago.
Working with our partner, the Association of Evangelicals Liberia (AEL) and Samaritan’s Purse, Tearfund has provided bio-sand filters for the Koninga people.
They work by filtering water through three different layers of stones and sand with harmless active bacteria to remove diseases.
Abu B Barak, town chief of the district capital Henry Town, is delighted with the filters’ arrival.
Better hygiene
`This will be the first time that some of these very remote towns get clean water, our children will no longer get sick,’ said Abu.
`We, the people of the Koninga chiefdom, thank everyone who made this possible.’
Provision of clean water is only half the story. Improving communities’ hygiene practices, such as hand washing, and building and using toilets, is also being tackled through education and awareness. Changing community behaviour is often more difficult and longer term than providing clean water.
• Please give thanks for the work to bring clean water and pray it can continue successfully in other Liberian communities.
• Please pray that communities will adopt improved hygiene practices.
• Pray for staff from Tearfund, our partners and other agencies involved in this vital work.
• Pray that 2008, the Year of Sanitation, delivers major improvements to the lives of millions who lack clean water and toilets.