The Norwegian delegation visited Bombali to see the new wells and water systems they funded

June 2011: More than 35 communities, home to about 10,000 people and about 4500 children, now have access to clean, safe, drinking water thanks to Plan and a Norwegian partnership.

For as long as anyone can remember, families in the Bombali region have been drawing water from local streams for household use. The water is used for cleaning, laundry, bathing, cooking, and after boiling, for drinking. The stream can be easily polluted by run-off, animal and human waste. The practice of drawing water from the stream renders the communities prone to waterborne illnesses including diarrhea, cholera and dysentery among others. Children under 5 are particularly vulnerable to these types of diseases, cases of which often end in death.

Clean, safe water is a quick and relatively easy way to stop this prevalence of these illnesses and save lives. Working with the communities, Plan devised a strategy for providing clean water and with the support of colleagues in Norway, funding for the project was found. More than 35 communities were provided with clean, safe wells and water access points. In the villages where the wells have been installed, a drop in waterborne illnesses has already been seen.

In March 2011, a ten member delegation from Norway visited Plan in Sierra Leone. The delegation made up of representatives from 4H, U8, Lucky Naroset and Plan Norway staff journed to Bombali to see the new wells and water systems in action. In several communities, there were celebrations welcoming the guests and commissioning the new water systems.

One village elder commented, “We knew it was unhealthy to pull water from the stream, but we had no choice. Now Plan has given us the gift of clean water, it is no longer dangerous for our children to take a drink of cool water.”

Read more about Plan's work in Sierra Leone.