Big Give campaign aims to bring clean water to displaced families in Mali
A fundraising campaign launching through the Big Give in December aims to raise £80,000 to restore clean water supplies to villages in Central Mali, helping thousands of displaced people return home and rebuild their lives.
The project, spearheaded by Chagford-based charity The Joliba Trust, will focus on 21 villages in the Koro and Bandiagara region, where water infrastructure was damaged or abandoned after communities were attacked and homes destroyed between 2014 and 2019.
Although a peace agreement has made it safe for families to return, many are unable to do so because their villages no longer have functioning water supplies. Years spent in refugee camps have brought widespread hunger and poverty, and those who have returned are facing further hardship.
Some families are currently relying on ponds containing unsafe water, which are also at risk of drying up. Waterborne illnesses, including diarrhoea, typhoid and dysentery, are causing particular concern.
One displaced resident, Awa Barry, described the hardship of life in the camps: “We have suffered for eight years in refugee camps in Bamako. We received food aid for 6 months and then there was no more help. Every day we look for work but often find nothing and our children have become beggars. We eat only one meal a day.”
Youssouf Barry explained the difficulties faced by families attempting to return: “We fled hunger and poverty to return home. Unfortunately there is no longer a village or water points. Between dying of thirst and drinking dirty water we have chosen to drink dirty water. All the children have diarrhoea and typhoid fever and we are very afraid of losing our children.”
Another resident, Hawa Bolly, said: “We arrived two months ago. Everyone has dysentery and a terrible stomach ache. Our children also have a fever but we don't have money to take them to a health centre. We have already lost two children. We thought when we came home we would be happy but our suffering continues.”
The campaign will work with water specialists to repair and renew existing infrastructure, including boreholes, wells, water towers and standpipes. It also aims to provide a water supply to the Health and Maternity Centre in Tireli, which currently has none and serves surrounding communities.
The project is intended to benefit 14,516 people across the districts of Koporo-Pen, Koporo-Na, Bondo, Doucoumbo and Youdiou. The estimated cost of providing clean water is just £5.51 per person, with a total project budget of £80,982 to repair and provide water supplies across 22 villages.
Access to water would also help communities recover economically. Families would be able to rebuild homes, keep livestock and grow small gardens of vegetables and pimentos. Planting trees would provide shade from the intense heat, while fruit, nuts and seedpods could offer women opportunities to generate income.
Easier access to water would also reduce the time women and girls spend collecting it, allowing women to take part in income-generating activities and giving girls more opportunity to attend school. Restoring reliable supplies is also expected to reduce tensions between communities over increasingly scarce water resources, a problem made worse by climate change.
Traditional earth-dug wells in the region are also collapsing following more intense rainstorms and flooding, leaving some villages without supplies.
The campaign organisers will monitor the condition and effectiveness of the restored water systems with local water and health authorities. A full-time staff member working with displaced people will also report on the project's impact. Support for women and girls returning to their communities will include training and income-generation schemes.
The Big Give campaign will launch on December 1, with a fundraising target of £80,000. Donations can be made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which runs from midday on December 1 until midday on December 8. During the week, eligible donations are matched, meaning supporters can double the impact of their contribution. Any additional money raised will allow more water resources to be provided, while a shortfall would mean fewer supplies could be restored.
Organisers say that, for families who have lost their homes and spent years in displacement, access to clean water is the essential first step towards returning home and rebuilding their lives.
Please donate here: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000HF68AYAT