Although this page is not quite step-by-step, it is a great start. It is quite amazing to transfer information across the world starting on a cell phone in the bush, to village hut, to my living room, then to this web page.
In all of our programs we ask the family for some sort of participation. For example, when we build huts we ask that they provide the doors and windows, or stoves we provide supplies but the women themselves do the building, or school children’s uniforms were always made by the parents with the fabric we provided. It does all start with the young men in the family digging the hole first. Maybe its a nephew or grandson.
Then the well builder begins. Mid-way up we actually have enough light to see what he is doing down there.
They use cement like we do and mix it by hand.
The woman who is receiving the well will prepare meals for the builders for as many days as the well-building takes.
He gets up close enough we can see he is using a limb chair to sit in.
The next series is in a new location and new builder at about the same place in the building process.
What would the builder do without the aid of his helper? That fellow makes things continue to move forward!
The sand on the edge can help hold space for the uneven ground.
And what about the water? They don’t have a clean water well, but there is a hole in the ground somewhere and so this woman-of-the-house brings it.
Finally a layer on top of the ground level!
Adjusting that limb chair for the next level.
Yes, that’s not your cell phone going off. Doesn’t this give cause to ponder? No clean water, but cell phones everywhere on the planet. hmmm…
He found it! This is the layer for which he was looking!
Next they build the well cap of cement by pouring it separately, so first is the layout.
Creating the hole in the center through which to draw the pail.
Then screening it with wire….this is sssssssssuper short.
This photo is an example from another home’s building site. The cap doesn’t have the slope, but has bricks to stop ground water from entering.
This photo shows the result is a cap that has just been moved on top of the well.
This example is our librarian and her husband’s well, before it has been painted with our donor’s name.