“I am thrilled about the new borehole being drilled. With this borehole now closer to my home, I will save both energy and time on household chores. Water brings me peace, like a supportive friend in all my activities.”

— Hafsat Abdullahi, 17 years old

Hafsat and her family were displaced from Dogon Daji and now live in Zango, Bungudu LGA, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Since moving to Zango, Hafsat has struggled daily to secure water for her household, which consumes a significant amount of her time and energy. Each morning, she walks to the nearest stream to fetch water, all the while hoping for a day when her community would have a closer source. Her family depends on the water she collects, which often causes her to miss school and arrive late.

Hafsat dreams of becoming a teacher, but her current challenges with fetching water disrupt her education. She also faces the risk of assault on her journey.

Thanks to funding from JRS/USA and a community needs assessment by JRS Nigeria, we identified numerous non-functional water points in the area. We worked with community leaders to select and rehabilitate the most vulnerable locations.

The impact on Hafsat and the girls in her community has been profound. “I can hardly believe we now have safe, clean water just steps from our home. I no longer have to walk long distances, my life has transformed, and I can attend school regularly. My family and I are healthier.”

Following the borehole rehabilitation, JRS also implemented comprehensive WASH activities, including hygiene promotion and the distribution of water purification tablets to ensure the water from the borehole is safe for consumption.

Madam Amina, a 58-year-old women’s leader, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the community: “On behalf of all the women in this community, I want to thank JRS for rehabilitating the borehole. We had longed for this for a while, and when the borehole was out of service, life became very challenging. Thanks to Allah and JRS, we are now able to drink, cook, bathe, wash, and live healthily.”

For more information on this project, please read this interview.