Drilling has begun!

The drilling started today on the first well.  They should be done drilling all three wells in the next two weeks!  It is so exciting to have come this far.  We are so grateful to all those who have donated to help our cause!

Woman in purple is Sophia who is the council woman for the well #1 and is helping to oversee the drilling

Our engineers have communicated to the three water boards (the committee made up of local villagers to help oversee use/maintenance/upkeep of their well) that as the two heavy trucks come to each drilling site, they will ruin some of the land owners' crops.  The good news is most of the land owners are on the water board committees so they understand.  We have reached a settlement from our donations to help them recover this loss.

The constitutions for each well will be completed by the end of the week.  (See last post for pictures of their meetings and constitutions.)  Training is continuing by the teenagers to teach the importance of good hygiene and proper maintenance of the well.  Our trusted friend, Francis, is transporting the workers and smoothing relations among the villages and overseeing timelines.  He will also make a monthly trip to visit each of the wells (a three hr drive each way for him) to ensure the upkeep of the well.  All too often because of no water boards and thus no accountability, the wells break and the villagers are right back where they started.  We are hoping education of the villagers and accountability of the boards will ensure proper usage and a long life for each well!

Drilling should be done in two weeks!  Stay tuned and check back for updates!

We are still $2,000 short for the third well and are also hoping to have $2,000 in an account for ongoing maintenance costs.  Spread the word, pass the blog around, send our website for donations!  We are almost there!!!

Website: (cut and paste link in a new window, the hyperlink isn't working.) 
http://www.globalvillageconnect.org/kirabos-well.html

Thanks!
Rebecca and James