We are always parepared to undertake the next Village Water Project, and invite sponsors to contribute to financing as many bore holes as possible! The cost is about $6,500 USD per bore hole, which includes:

• hydrogeological surveying to determine location of ground water
• transport of rig and drilling of bore hole
• installation of pipes, walls, foundation and hand pump
• training of village water committees on how to use and maintain the pump
• on-site project supervision
• post-installation follow up and community development training
• and all labor and materials

We have many communities who have requested our assistance, who are prepared to do their part to qualify for financial support. Some are in the process of saving their 5% contribution as we speak, but we're still waiting for donors to come forward. Please contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a bore hole in a remote village in need of a clean, reliable water source. The Wilcat Water Project is one example of how one teacher, school, and community are uniting to provide clean water for Ogyanhyewano & Akromakwaa villages.

Water-borne and water-based diseases are the primary cause of preventable illness and premature deaths in these villages, with children being particularly vulnerable. The collaborative effort to install a bore hole with hand pump in each village will immediately improve the health of everyone in the village, even saving lives. In addition to health benefits, the water source will save women and children hundreds of hours a month in hauling water from streams and rivers, will increase the growing season of crops by 25% per year, and will provide a source of revenue that will be used to increase the quality of life in the village, including education, medical care, and access to technology.

Current Water Projects Underway

From February to April 2010 Greg Jones, an AHP volunteer, and Andy Jones spent time in Ghana to select the next three communities for clean water projects. Two are in the same region as Alantaso, where our first water project was successfully completed in 2009 - amongst farms outside of Swedru, Ghana. The other is in the Northern Region near Tamale.

Kwesibudu is a agricultural village of about 250 people, currently in the process of saving their financial contribution of 300 GHS (about $250 USD). This bustling community showed great enthusiasm at the prospect of getting a bore hole in the near future, and committed in earnest to contribute and beging preparations in February 2010. They have already received a hydrogeological survey to determine location of clean ground water. As soon as they have prepared their portion, we'll hope to have donated funds in place to finance the project.

Images from Kwesibudu - Feb 2010 - Pre-bore hole

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Ogyanhyewano & Akromakwaa are two small rural farming communities which will share the same centrally located bore hole. In developing a relationship with the great people of these villages, they have been found to be very eager and willing to do everything they can to contribute to the financing and success of the project. The are very poor, and the assurance of reliable, clean water will ensure that children and adults improve in health and increase in productivity and education as a result. These communities are the beneficiaries of the awesome efforts of the kids and teachers of the Wildcat Water Project, culminating around July 2010. Ogyanhyewano means "fire burn your mouth" which is a Guan proverb reminding one to not talk to much. Surveying was done in April, with drilling projected by the end of May 2010. Hand pump installation with wait until the village has completed their savings account for the maintenance of the pump.

Images from Ojashuanu & Akromakwaa- Feb 2010 - Pre-bore hole

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Chanshegu is a village in norther Ghana, near Tamale, in dire need of clean water. Jana Capps, a valuable volunteer with AHP, and founder of the non-profit GRAACE , has spent a lot of time in this community, and is facilitating the completion of this project. The Chanshegu bore hole will be financed by two anonymous donors. We anticipate the completion of this project by the end of June 2010.

Images from Chanshegu Village

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Sethokai is a village in the Central Region, in the Kwanyaku district. This community has two semi-functional hand dug wells which are not sufficient to serve the needs of the people who rely on them. While the water is clean enough, it dries up for about 4 months of the year, leaving residents to fetch water by hand from a large distance. It is less expensive and effective to drill a new bore hole rather than attempt to deepend the hand dug wells, seal them off, and install a hand pump. Sethokai has saved a portion of their funds and opened their Community Watsan Bank Account, have been surveyed, and will have their bore hole drilled before the end of May 2010. The installation of hand pump to access the water will be done when the village has completed their financial obligation to ensure the bore hole and pump can be maintained after installation. Photos forthcoming.

Successful Water Projects Completed

Alantaso & Krobidasiwakyi, Ghana - Oct 2008 to June 2009

Alantaso and Krobidasiwakyi are rural villages in Ghana's Central Region which were given assistance in their quest to establish a reliable, all-season water source to provide clean underground water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and irrigation.

Thanks to local support at the World Music Benefit Cocnert I in Salt Lake City on March 20, 2009, the bore holes were successfully installed on June 13, 2009. All members of Alantaso and Krobidasiwakyi are now drinking clean water from the hand pumps in their own villages! They send their thanks to all who have participated in this wonderful endeavor. Donations received and funds raised at the Benefit Cocnert were not sufficient to cover the full amount of the bore hole installation, so your continued donations are needed to repay the small bridge loan provided interest free by DjembeDirect.com. When these bore holes are paid off, we'll begin earmarking donations for the next villages in line for our Clean Water Project support.

Fundraising Video for the Alantaso Water Project, 2009: