GAiN continues to see extraordinary transformation through the Water for Life Initiative in Benin, Togo and Tanzania. The successful provision of 3,105 wells across all three countries means that approximately 3,105,000 people are enjoying a healthier way of life!
David Lee, GAiN’s WFLI Environmental Programs and Data Specialist, travelled to Togo earlier this year to connect with some of the villages and facilitate training for the field staff. Thanks to a cancelled flight, he was able to visit an additional village called Agnidjé, located about one hour from the capital city of Lomé. It was there that he witnessed the vibrant hope and excitement of a community awaiting their first deep-capped water well.
“I saw the anticipation in the people’s eyes as the drilling rig hammered away bit by bit. They were really looking forward to the day that the well would be finished,” David recalled.
He shared that as he walked around the village, there were pits of varying sizes filled with bright green water. The pits were either hand dug wells that tapped into unclean surface-level groundwater or rainwater collection pits that gathered water saturated with soil and manure. This was the village’s sole source of water.
“We wouldn’t even want to touch that water, let alone use it,” David said.
Next to one of the water pits, David spoke to a middle-aged gentleman named Gilbert, who was happy to see the GAiN team visit and drill a well. Gilbert said that he had lived in the village for his entire life, over 40 years. He also shared that people in Agnidjé would use the unclean water from the pits in the village for irrigation and flushing. In order to drink, cook, clean, or wash, they would have to travel 5 km away to another village to buy clean water. Some people used a motorcycle, which cost money. Others, especially women and children, had to walk 10 km round trip every day carrying 50 litres of water on their shoulders or heads. Sometimes the water would spill, leaving less than half the amount when they returned.
The process of Agnidjé receiving a well all began when Gilbert talked with a pastor in the region, who was already familiar with GAiN. His church was the fruit of another church that GAiN had planted while providing a well from a different village. The pastor shared with Gilbert that GAiN provides wells for communities in need. Realizing that this well could change everything, Gilbert reached out to see if a team could come and help his village.
Gilbert explained that a few months ago, a team from GAiN did some assessments to determine if sub-surface, uncontaminated water was present in the village. When the team successfully found water deep in the ground, everyone in the village was filled with joy.
“I cannot describe in words how happy and how hopeful Gilbert and everyone in Agnidjé was watching that drilling rig pound inch by inch closer to clean water,” David shared. “After 40 years of living in Agnidjé, he witnessed flowing water spring up from the ground of his homeland for the first time.”
There are few experiences more profound than watching an entire community’s livelihood transform through the presence of clean running water. With every bucketful, physical bodies are restored, community relationships are strengthened and hope for the future is renewed. To establish both physically and relationally healthy communities in all three of our partner countries, GAiN has trained 251,664 individuals in proper hygiene and sanitation practices and engaged 69,727 people in discussion on gender roles and domestic abuse. Additionally, we have planted a total of 1,061 church plants and ensured that 42,921 people receive further discipleship in their faith.
“This is the most significant event to have happened in Agnidjé since Agnidjé existed,” Gilbert expressed. “This must go in the history books of our land that this day is the day we finally had water. The day we have hope, the day our lives are transformed, and the day we can hope for a better future. Praise be to God Almighty who provides, who listens to our prayers, and who sustains everything! We thank God for the blessing which is the ministry of GAiN.”
The overflowing joy and gratitude of people like Gilbert spur us on to continue doing the work we know that God has given us to do. Slowly but surely, the beauty of clean water and the restorative message of Jesus’ love are altering the course of these countries forever.
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