Africa-Press – Gambia. A new solar-powered borehole was on Saturday inaugurated in Bunyadou Village aimed at improving access to clean and safe drinking water for the community.
The borehole was provided through collaboration between Foni Agency for Rural Development (FARD) and Ambassador Dembo Badjie.
The borehole has a capacity of 2,000 litres and reflects FARD’s commitment to sustainable community development.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, “Alkalo” (village head) of Bunyadou, Abdoulie Camara, commended the donors for their contribution, stressing that the donation was timely and critical.
“The community has suffered water shortages for years without assistance,” he said. “This gesture is indeed appreciated and it came at the right time as we are battling this challenge. We have suffered a lot in accessing clean water.”
The Alkalo also raised concerns over the poor road network in the community, particularly during the rainy season.
“The rainy season is fast approaching and the road is in a bad state. We had to abandon the road due to its condition. We need assistance from you and other philanthropists,” he added.
Ambassador Dembo Badjie said the project followed a pilot phase in the community. He described the initiative as a humanitarian effort, not political, and said it involved all tribes committed to development.
“This launching is significant because helping people is part of humanity. This organisation is not political and it involves all tribes who are ready for development,” he said.
Ambassador Badjie further noted that other communities would benefit as FARD strengthens its support and expands to other areas in Foni.
He also assured the community that FARD would seek to address road challenges and encouraged other organisations to adopt similar projects.
FARD Health Secretary General, Ousman Badjie, said the community had been facing water shortages for years, prompting the organisation to implement the project.
He added that baseline data collection was important to document the impact of the project and could be used for advocacy for government on the health benefits of boreholes.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Halima Bojang thanked the donors for their commitment and dedication.
“We appreciate this gesture and hope to receive more support in the future. We are gardeners who also face water shortages. Many families depend on gardens to feed our households, but water remains a major challenge,” she remarked.
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