PROJECT #115

Project #115 | Improving Sanitation in Sierra Leone

Our partnership with OneVillage Partners

Sierra Leone was among the most affected countries of the Western Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014. The region has been resilient during this health shock but recovery is still underway. Given that Ebola was primarily spread through the exchange of bodily fluids, people are now highly aware of the importance of sanitation and hygiene. However, the lack of sanitary latrines was, and remains, a particularly serious problem where individuals and households lack access to such facilities. 

We partnered with OneVillage Partners to address the immense need for improved sanitation facilities in rural Sierra Leone, particularly in the villages of Makka and Madina. The objective of this project was to improve sanitation access as a way to improve health and minimize the spread of diarrhea, respiratory illness, and sickness. Additionally, this project encouraged community participation and involvement, to ensure long-term behavior change. Twenty-four community leaders between the two villages were educated on the project. This gave them the tools to effectively implement, promote, and teach other members of their community the importance of utilizing these new sanitary facilities. 

Our collective impact

Latrines Constructed

Households with Latrine Access

Trainings on Sanitation & Hygiene

Meet Samuel

Samuel is a young and dynamic father of two children, living in a small mountainous village named Makka in the east of Sierra Leone. Samuel comes from a long line of farmers, and uses the income generated from each harvest to feed, clothe, and educate his family. Due to the poor health infrastructure in his community, farming as a livelihood has been negatively impacted. The lack of latrines and the close proximity of farmland to the town have meant that this land is increasingly used as an open defecation site. With determination to salvage the situation, the partnership with OneVillage Partners served as a source of hope for Samuel and the entire community. Fifteen of the 33 latrines constructed in Makka were in Samuel’s neighborhood. Today, Samuel and his family are very happy, and their farmland is restored. Samuel stated proudly, “My family’s source of livelihood is restored because of our sustainable sanitation project. My dream is to encourage other families to utilize the facility in the best way possible, for wellbeing of present and future generations.”

Thank you for making this possible!

Our movement is grassroots, to us that not only means the work on the ground is led by local leaders with the support of the community, but it also means that we raise the funds for our projects through everyday donors just like you. In addition to all the donors that gave $25, $100, or $250 and the campaigners that ran a race or donated their birthday to raise funds, we also want to thank our generous business, school, and faith sponsors who believed in our work and joined the movement.

If you want to support future projects like this you can make a donation to our water & sanitation fund.

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