Educate Thousands of Girls with Year-Round Water

“I am Studying to be a Doctor!” says Celeste, fifth-grader in the village of Kamsi.  She knows this is possible now because she is in school and learning about having light after dark by using solar energy. After school, she must complete her chores at home, which takes until 7 or 8 pm - and the sun sets at 6.  With solar powered lights, she will have time to study.

Pathways out of poverty in the dry, hot Sahel of Africa require water EVERY DAY– which is what your contributions are helping make happen.  Upon completion of our first rainwater catchment basin, water became available every day of the year. With water, the villagers are gardening, raising animals, fishing, creating small businesses and jobs, and hosting markets three times a week.  And most importantly, girl children now attend school because they no longer must trek three hours a day to help their mothers fetch water for their household.Kamsi is the site of our second rainwater catchment basin.

Solar Powered Lights for Education: Haoua and Laeticia, CBG-WA’s local staff in Burkina Faso, have been meeting regularly with villagers in Kamsi. Additional visits and studies have been required to determine with residents the appropriate locations of the solar electrification systems in order to allow children, especially the girls, to have sufficient light to study at night. (Burkina Faso is near the equator with the sun rising every morning at 6 am and setting at 6 pm every night.  With no electricity currently in the villages, there is no light without the sun.) 

Residents have concluded the school is the appropriate starting point for electrification with solar panels. The school principal has the teachers instructing students about power, electricity and solar energy.  Research of potential suppliers of solar panels has been extensive.  Several companies in Burkina Faso can provide the panels, the installation, and maintenance. Quotes for the work have been received and discussions held to select the best company.  Village residents are also keen to learn the proper maintenance and protections needed to keep the systems economical, efficient and long lasting. As of November 20, the solar equipment supplier in Burkina Faso was selected. The goal is to install solar energy equipment in Kamsi primary school by the end of December; and in some of the family compounds as additional funds are secured.

Further, the solar-powered irrigation system and solar-powered filtration system are now being incorporated in the Kamsi basin reconstruction design. The residents of Kamsi are participating fully with the GWGL staff to assure they have a high quality rainwater catchment basin that will also be sustainable.

Village Of Kamsi:  In Kamsi, there has been very little water for over 30 years due to the collapse of an old collection pond.  After receiving bids from several engineering firms based in Ouagadougou, CBG-WA with village representatives contracted with one engineering company to design the new rainwater catchment basin.  Once the design and written specifications were completed in September, construction companies submitted proposals to conduct the work. The chosen company is now making preparations for the work; and discussing with the Kamsi residents what tasks they will do.  Based on the villagers’ knowledge, the construction of the basin should begin late January or early February 2016.  Construction of the new basin will take 3 to 4 months. 

Your Help: CBG-WA is building rainwater catchment basins in villages throughout Burkina Faso as fast as we have sufficient funds. A new rainwater catchment basin serving 2,000 village residents costs about $50 per person.  Having water year round is critically important to the health and well-being of every resident in every village.  We know through our own experience that an entire agriculturally based village can become healthier and economically self-sufficient through sustainable community development that a single rainwater catchment basin makes possible.  Utilizing solar power enhances the sustainability.  And fortunately, Burkina Faso has abundant sunshine.

Your Global Giving contributions are vital - providing great benefit to the villagers of Burkina Faso. Your suggestions on how to make the positive impacts of a rainwater catchment basin and the use of solar energy better understood will also help attract more donors and investors. As a donor yourself, please tell us what attracted you to our program and what your interests are. Your continued help is very much appreciated and your ideas are always welcome.