Wells in Africa: Giving Life Through Clean Water
Turning on the tap is easy for many who live in the West. We’re thirsty or we need to cook―out comes clean water. And very few of us need to be worried about the quality of what comes out of the faucet. We know it will not make us sick. In Africa, clean water is not a given. This is why it’s incredibly important to provide more clean water solutions, like installing wells in Africa, for the safety and health of everyone.
Every hour in Africa, 115 people die from diseases connected with contaminated water. At least 1 in every 3 people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in a water-scarce environment. And a quarter of that population spends 30 minutes or more traveling round trip to get their daily water needs.[1]
“Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent on the planet, and the demand for water and sanitation is outstripping supply in cities” says Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.[2]
The lack of water in an arid environment, increased demand for water and limited access are some of the driving factors for the water crisis that many in Africa face. More clean water solutions, like more water wells in Africa, can address many of these concerns. The water is there, it’s just not on the surface.
According to the World Health Organization, “When water comes from improved and more accessible sources, people spend less time and effort in physically collecting it, meaning they can be productive in other ways. It can also result in greater personal safety by reducing the need to make long or risky journeys to collect water. Better water sources also mean less expenditure on health, as people are less likely to fall ill and incur medical costs, and are better able to remain economically productive. With children particularly at risk from water-related diseases, access to improved sources of water can result in better health and therefore better school attendance, with longer-term consequences for their lives.”[3]
The lack of water in an arid environment, increased demand for water and limited access are some of the driving factors for the water crisis that many in Africa face. More clean water solutions, like more water wells in Africa, can address many of these concerns. The water is there, it’s just not on the surface.
Clean water wells in Africa can help people like Ragnar. He and his family lived in an area where access to clean water was difficult like in Africa. His family of six struggled to keep up with their water needs, and it was a half a mile to the nearest water source. Even after they trekked there, it was often the site of conflict, with people jostling in line or shoving people out of the way. But the water they were fighting for? It wasn’t even clean.[4]
Ragnar’s four children suffered the most and were often sick. Because of this, they struggled at school. He wanted to take them to the doctor, but they could not afford that luxury. The treks to the contaminated water continued.
One day, Ragnar met GFA World missionary Dabid on the road through the village. It was obvious to Dabid that Ragnar was distressed. They stopped and talked, and Ragnar poured his heart out about his family’s trouble. Dabid was sympathetic to their plight and said he would try to do something to help with the water situation. Ragnar was filled with hope.
Dabid went back to his congregation, and they began to pray together that a Jesus Well from GFA would be installed in Ragnar’s village. Their prayers were answered. GFA was able to install a Jesus Well in the village, serving about 300 people a day. Ragnar’s family regained their health through drinking the clean water and never again had to walk so far for this lifesaving necessity.
Jesus Wells are one of the clean water projects provided depending on the need of the community. They are drilled deep and constructed resiliently, able to draw clean water from a source that can withstand droughts. GFA uses local drillers to keep the cost of a well in Africa and Asia down and provide work for local laborers. A local congregation provides the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the well. This also keeps costs down and creates an invested community to ensure the well functions for many years to come. Jesus Wells are made to last 20 years of 8 hours of use per day.
Through Jesus Wells, clean water is available year round. The regular times of drought that many experience are alleviated by the presence of a Jesus Well, made possible by donors like you. Donating to GFA water projects, you can help entire villages break free from the cycle of illness and its complications, like missing school and work, two essentials for those in impoverished areas.
Maybe you want to create a fundraiser with friends and family to help raise the money to purchase a Jesus Well. People in the countries we serve would be grateful to find sustainable health through clean water that you help make available. Pray about whether this is something God wants you to invest in. Hundreds of lives can be revived and saved because of your generosity.
Give yourself this challenge: Enlist a neighbor to help you recreate some of the water issues those in need face. Only use water that you can get from their house for a day or two. Experience the feeling of having to plan ahead, fill containers, carry them back to your home, and do it all over again. And that’s without the constant threat of waterborne illnesses.
Give toward clean water projects like a Jesus Well today and help save lives.
Learn more about global sanitation progress
[1] “International Decade for Action.” United Nations. 2015. https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/africa.shtml#:~:text=About%2066%25%20of%20Africa%20is,poor%20hygiene%20and%20contaminated%20water.
[2] “International Decade for Action.” United Nations. 2015. Ibid.
[3] “WHO Africa, Water.” World Health Organization. Accessed July 29, 2023. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/water.
[4] “A Family’s Fight Against Contaminated Water.” GFA World. February 26, 2021. https://www.gfa.org/news/articles/a-familys-fight-against-contaminated-water-wfr21-03/.