We believe the water crisis is best solved by those most impacted by it– women. Over the past two years, they have proven this to be true in South Sudan! As of World Ward Day, March 22, 2023, here are some stats about our Women’s Well Repair Initiative:

15 women-led well repair teams trained
12 new teams in training
Over 400 wells repaired
Over 64,250 beneficiaries of clean water

As we grow, so will the impact!

Meet a few of the passionate recruits who are currently assessing wells in their communities. In April, they will complete their training, graduate, and begin repairing wells for communities in Aweil, South Sudan.

My name is Elizabeth Nyibol Akol from Bar-Mayen Payam of Aweil Center County. I am married with five children. I am doing a business of tea making in Bar Mayen market. However, I have now acquired new skills in pump mechanics and shall get money to support my business and help myself. My children were not in school, but now I can pay their fees and give them the medical and basic services they need. With my new skills, I will work hard to provide the community with clean water. No one will fall sick again by drinking dirty water, and I will help my people and my family.

My name is Arech Garang Amuk. I am a Dinka from Aweil residing in the home village of Mading. I am a married, single mother of 4 children. I have been a businesswoman working in a restaurant in the village that, unfortunately, I had to close at the end of October 2022. The collapsing of my business last year caused a lot of struggling since last year, and this caused my kids and me to spend some days without food. I decided to either move to Khartoum or commit suicide, but God intervened by sending the WESI organization to Aweil. I was selected as a pump mechanic and to be trained in well repair and business. The repair and business skills and knowledge will help me to revive my business. In training, I have received $100 as an incentive, and indeed, it is a great gift that I will use to reinvest into my business to earn profit for my kids. My hope is restored, and I thank WESI for giving me an opportunity to be a Pump Mechanic. I will repair more wells to provide clean drinking water, earn repair fees, and invest in the business. God gives ways. I have a way to go right away.

My name is Achol Achol Lual. I am a Dinka from Aweil from the home village of Madhol. I am married and have 3 children in school. I have been a businesswoman working in a restaurant in the village. I want to thank WESI organization and government authority for giving me the opportunity to be a Pump Mechanic. This will make me acquire more skills in pump maintenance and be part of the workforce that provides clean drinking water to the community. It will also earn me some money which will improve my business, pay school fees for my children, and provide medical services and other basic needs like food and clothing. In the community, clean drinking water will be available now that wells will be repaired and maintained because of available spare parts and increased pump mechanics in our community. Before this project and even now, the community did not have clean drinking water because no spare parts were available and technical personnel were minimal. This made the community victims of water-borne diseases. But now that women are involved in providing water to the community, this situation will be reversed altogether.

My name is Maria Amou Yel from Wathmuok Payam in Aweil South County. I am a Teacher in my village. I am married and blessed with 3 children. In this training, I learned new skills and knowledge about well repair and maintenance. Before, I didn’t even know the names of spare parts, but now I know them all. With these skills I have acquired, I can repair wells and ensure our community has clean drinking water. All this while, water is very scarce, and most parts of the community have no access to clean water, but now clean water will be available everywhere. Previously, it used to be men alone having the skills of well repair, but now I will be with women to provide communities with water. In this way, morbidity and mortality rates related to water-borne diseases will be reduced and lives in the communities will be improved. At my personal level, it will support my family and me financially, and I can pay school fees for my children and provide medical services, food, and clothing, among other things. This entire situation was different before I became Pump Mechanic.

Together we can support Elizabeth, Arech, Achol, Maria, and the new women-led well repair teams as they launch their businesses!

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