HASENE INSTALLED 1,728 WATER WELLS WITHIN 5 YEARS

2 Nisan 2015

Water is a natural source which is undoubtedly inevitable for sustaining human life. Droughts and shortages experienced throughout the history caused people move to places in which they could have access to water sources. Water is used in different fields of life from agriculture to energy. Despite the fact that 70% of the earth surface is covered with water, only 1% of this amount is of potable type. There are huge difficulties today in accessing clean water especially in African countries. Causes of 80% of diseases observed in particularly poor countries are affiliated with contaminated water.

Hasene Association was established in October 2010. Since then the Association has been carrying aid activities in different fields. One of them is water well projects. Each well provides life to hundreds of people living in the countries of African continent. Sustaining humanitarian aid activities for five years Hasene installed 1,728 water wells in 14 countries until today. 300 people on average benefit from one water well, which were installed with donations of approximately 2,700 donators.

Countries where water wells have been drilled so far: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Benin, Somalia, Mauritania, Gambia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, and Togo.

1.4 billion people unable to access to clean water

Scientific researches published as of the end of 2013 reveal the fact that factors paving the way for droughts and global warming are actually caused by the human being itself. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which are generated in the consequence of industrialization and energy consumption cause global warming and climate change. Global warming and drought bring forth decrease in groundwater sources as well as troubles in agriculture and energy production. According to evidences, world population quadrupled compared to the past century while clean water sources decreased nine fold.

According to researches, drought caused by global warming continues to threat human life and will have disastrous effects unless precautions are taken. Limitedness of sources brings water saving to the agenda. It is necessary to raise awareness regarding use of water. Today when balances over the world become more fragile and local changes cause larger global outcomes we are obliged to use water, our basic source of life, in a thriftier way.

According to statistics provided by the UN 1.4 billion of the world population is deprived of clean potable water. 470 million people sustain their live in regions suffering from water shortages. It is said that this number is expected to increase six fold by the year of 2025. According to the explanations, every year 250 million people are infected with epidemic diseases caused by contaminated water and about 10 million people lose their lives due to these diseases.

Water is life, water saves lives…

For us, water is something which is one step away. We do not put great efforts in slaking out thirst. In the era we live, do you know that there are people who have to cover kilometers so as to access to water carrying cans at hands? In the African continent, especially women and children carry water to home by walking approximately 6 kilometers a day. Despite that enormous effort, distress and fatigue they can access to water that is risky, not that clean and even has the potential of causing disease. This is the only possibility they have! What else can be done?

Droughts experienced in many countries of Africa also bring about shortages of water. People meet their needs from ponds and muddy waters that are formed with rainfalls during particular seasons. With water wells installed people of the aggrieved and oppressed geography who are bound to contaminated water and have to strive to access to water as our source of life become able to access to clean water.

The Water Well Project is carried under the slogan “Water is life, water saves lives.” Thus water, as the basic human need, becomes life in different geographies, it saves lives.

Names of water wells determined by donators

Benefactor who donates €500 and over for digging a water well can have the right to name the well. After the installation is completed, a sign with the name of the donator on it is mounted next to the water well. A picture of the well and necessary information is mailed to the benefactor’s address within 3 to 6 months in the form of a report. In the case that the benefactor would like to visit the water well, s/he can be sent to the country where the water well was opened on the grounds that s/he meets travel and accommodation costs on her/his own.

What kind of information is on the water well report?

In the report, such information as regarding the country, city and village in which water well is installed, the name of the local administrative person or imam of the village and contact information, distance of the water well to the capital city, the number of beneficiaries as well as technical information like the depth of well are available.

Apart from this, observers visiting countries where water wells installed within the framework of different campaigns and projects supervise water well in site and reports needs if any. In the next step, partner organizations are instructed to meet those needs.

Animals and plants as well benefit from water wells

It is not only people who benefit from clean water drilled from water wells. To avoid the waste of water we build basins so that animals can drink water, too. First and foremost animals drink water collected in the basins. Vegetables and trees planted near water wells in certain settlements can benefit from the water too.

Cost of water well depends on the country

Costs vary depending on the depth of water well and the country. In general, the depth varies between 30 and 90 meters. Places where wells are drilled are determined by experts. Since there are no sophisticated machines in the regions where installations are made, well are drilled by manpower. This shows how difficult access to water is. Top of wells are covered with concrete so that water can be hygienically preserved and not contaminated, and a hand pump is placed. Besides the costs vary from region to region, duration of installation also depends on climate conditions and lasts 6 to 9 months. Rainfalls can cause works stop and duration become longer.

Countries where wells are installed and current costs:

Chad, Cameroon and Niger €2,000

Ghana €2,500

Ethiopia €3,500

Gambia €4,000

Benin €4,500

Burkina Faso and Somalia €5,500

22 March World Water Day

It is a vital problem that usable water resources are contaminated and diminish in a world where 7 billion people live in. With the purpose of raising awareness about use of water, March 22 is celebrated as World Water Day with a decision taken by the UN General Assembly in 1993. Every year this day is kept on agenda by means of different subjects and activities. In previous years, subjects like “water and energy,” “solidarity for water,” “water and food security,” “water and urbanization” and “water quality” were brought to the agenda and awareness about water was attempted to be created.

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