Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Approximately 62,000 Ghanaians are set to gain easy access to clean water and sanitation this Eid, thanks to 20 philanthropists from Bahrain flying out tonight to unveil a project that will change the lives of local villagers for generations to come.
Project Nsuo, which translates to water in the local dialect of Twi, will be built in the rural community of Obodanase, located 80km from the capital, Accra. It will include a water pump and well, irrigation channels, recreational area, as well as a sanitation supply centre – all made a reality thanks to the personal contributions of each of the travelling volunteers from Rotaract Bahrain.
The project has been in the works for the last eight months and although the Rotaract team was set to fly out during the National Day holidays, Covid-19 restrictions forced them to change course.
“The idea for the initiative came about after I met young six-year-old Gifty Abena, who was in Bahrain last year,” Rotaract Bahrain president Tanima Chakravorty, 28, told GulfWeekly.
“We were giving out Ramadan boxes last year and we came across Gifty who was going back to Ghana, after her parents lost their jobs. When I offered her chocolate, unlike most children, she seemed like she wanted something else.
“As we talked for a bit, she opened up and asked me if I had more of the little water bottles that she could take home. I was completely blown away by how much she prized something that we take for granted.”
Although Gifty could not take water bottles back with her, Tanima promised to bring not just more bottles, but a way for Gifty and her neighbours to easily access clean, safe water.
And now exactly a year later, the Rotaract team are set to make that promise a reality.
During Eid, the team is expected to draw first water from the pump, hoisting the flag of Bahrain on the Rotaract-owned and locally-maintained plot of land.
“Although our goal is simple, bringing water to a rural community can dramatically improve the lives of local residents,” Tanima added.
“The women in this village usually walk for miles to get water from a pond that is not very clean, and this leads to all kinds of waterborne diseases.
“We have tested the water underneath this area to ensure it is sweet and clean. Having access to this is expected to not only reduce disease, but also support agriculture in the area.”
Supported by the Rotary Clubs of Manama, Salmaniya, Adliya and Seef, Project Nsuo is expected to support economic, health and agricultural development in nine villages in the area.
“This project is close to my heart since I come from Ghana and I helped Tanima communicate with Gifty last year,” Rotaract community service member Paa Kwesi added.
“Having grown up in the city there, however, I didn’t quite appreciate how important water was in these communities until Gifty told us her experiences. And the thing is, this kind of project doesn’t take a lot of financial investment, relatively speaking, but it’s about the will to get it done.”
With the team hoping to draw the first drops of water during Eid near the Bepoase settlements, they are hoping that it leads to a waterfall of growth and better opportunities in the decades to come.
For more details, follow
@rotaractbahrain on Instagram.
