The Progress

10 Wells Drilled in 2007 Season

A Story of Transformation and Hope

This little girl walked for four hours roundtrip with her sisters to carry water for her family. They sometimes made two or three trips a day.

This year, Water for Sudan, Inc. drilled a well in her village. The well is a two-minute walk from the girl's house.

Salva asked her mother, "What will your daughters do all day, now that they don't have to spend hours collecting water?"

The mother proudly replied, "Now they will go to school."

When fresh, clean water is available, lives are transformed.

Generous supporters made it possible for Water for Sudan, Inc. to purchase our own drilling rig for the 2007 drilling season, eliminating the need to rely on outside contractors.

Salva Dut returned to Sudan in January 2007 with the new equipment and a new crew. Between mid-March and mid-May, they drilled ten boreholes in ten villages, serving more than 25,000 people.

It takes a village to drill a well.

When Salva and the village leaders have decided where the well will be located, the villagers clear the area of all grass and brush.

They gather stones from the bush, sort them by size, and break the larger stones into small ones. This small "gravel" is used to build the wall around the well-head, and also becomes part of the filtration system. Every child, woman, and old man in the village is required to help with this project.

When the drill reaches the aquifer, water sprays into the air, providing welcome showers and a spontaneous celebration. The water must spray freely for the crew to test it and measure the volume. Then the process of capping the well and cementing the well-head area begins. The name of the sponsor of the well is stamped into the concrete.

When all is done, the real celebration begins - life is new!

Donors make the difference.

Many donors can claim a part in this single example of transformed life. Donors large and small- elementary school children, teens, churches, Rotary clubs and generous individuals - contributed to this year's progress, which brings the number of wells drilled to 17 in three years. More than 51,000 people in southern Sudan now have access to clean, safe drinking water than did three years ago. This year's wells (pictured below) were named in honor of the individuals and organizations who contributed enough money to sponsor a well.

Thank you, friends of Water for Sudan: