ARIKA'S TESTIMONY - "This water source is a deliverance for me"

A testimony from Arika Alassane, a beneficiary of World Vision’s WASH in Emergency Programming.

A critical water crisis in my community had been going on for more than 10 years. It made all aspects of life in my community difficult. As a homemaker, I cannot fully explain the profound grief this situation caused me. My name is Arika Alassane, I am 36 years old and mother of four children, of whom two girls, living in Bancani; a village of more than 2000 inhabitants of the rural district of Tonka in Timbuktu Region. I live with my husband also.

A critical water crisis in my community had been going on for more than 10 years. It made all aspects of life in my community difficult.

Since the breakdown of the only hand pump the village had more than 10 years ago, we have faced a terrible drinking water crisis. I walked more than 15 to 20 km a day to get my family's water supply. I happen to go from morning to evening to have 10 cans of 20 liters, which does not cover my family’s need for a day. We women, crowd around the only water point during the day and a good part of the night. My husband lost many of his livestock because of lack of water and my children did not go to school for the same reason. I have chronic back pains from carrying large amounts of water all day. Some of my children dropped out of school to support me with housework. All attempts to find drinking water in the past have been in vain.

I walked more than 15 to 20 km a day to get my family's water supply.

Now with the realization of this hand pump, thanks to the efforts of World Vision’s response in Central Mali, this thorn has been removed from our side. I will not travel more than 20 kilometers to get drinking water for my family.

In the coming days, my children will be able to go to school and finally forget this ordeal. My family’s finances are also stabilizing now that my husband can water his herd. The health of my children has improved a lot thanks to the clean drinking water, which greatly reduces diarrheal diseases.

In the coming days, my children will be able to go to school and finally forget this ordeal.

The greatest difficulty my village faced all its existence without a solution was finding enough water for everyone. Many partners tried to help us but did not succeed. Now, my community and I are experiencing this joy with World Vision as a partner.

With this pump, the chore of scouring for water, which for several years plagued my family and had such a negative impact on the lives of my children, is no more.