The residents of Mafaray are part of the Loko Tribe in the Bombali District. Villagers are a mix of Muslims and Christians living peacefully. Currently, villagers access water from a WHI hand-dug well, which goes dry during March and April - the peak of the dry season during which a local stream is used for drinking water, which is susceptible to contamination and leaves the community vulnerable to preventable water-borne disease.
Completed Activities & Impact
Economic Development
In 2014, WHI helped Maforay form a Village Development Committee (VDC) with the community electing both male and female members in an effort to empower women in the male dominated society. The VDC worked with WHI to encourage participation in development activities, steward project resources and hold their community accountable. WHI assisted the committee in strategizing about future development planning and discussed solutions to current problems, such as seed load distribution.
Clean Water Wells & Sanitation
In early 2015, WHI drilled the Mafaray well and built the water delivery infrastructure that consists of a tower, pipe and submersible pump. In addition, WHI drilled one well at a Red Zone Ebola holding Center. “Red Zone” is a term the government of Sierra Leone used to define Ebola Centers that had live Ebola patients in care.
Mafaray village received a new borehole well in February 2016. The hand dug well, provided by WHI, was not functioning during the dry season. Before, the people had to trek through rugged paths to fetch water from a nearby stream. The water was contaminated and caused cholera and diarrhea in the community. Children were often late to school as they travelled far to fetch water as part of their morning chores and have had injuries walking on the rough paths.
Prior to completion of the new water well, water filters were distributed to the Mafaray community to improve their drinking supply. “Olman di body well!” (Everyone is healthy!), several women shouted in Krio when asked whether they noticed a differences since using the water filters.
Twelve ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines have been completed. This type of pit latrine reduces or eliminates the smell and flies through the incorporation of a vertical vent pipe with a screen at the top.
Agriculture
WHI established a seed bank within the village, managed by the VDC. Seed banks provide a constant source of seeds for Mafaray and mobilize community resources to provide for the common good, strengthening the entire village. Before planting, farmers are given a seed loan, which they are responsible for paying back at harvest. Any additional seeds that the harvest yields are used as food or sold as income generation. Mafaray received 50 bushels of rice for 25 farmers and 60 bushels of groundnut to 30 farmers.
A goat multiplication project is also being considered by the Village Development Committee. In order to maintain a stable year-round income, it is important farmers raise different types of animals that can survive drought periods, are easy to manage and hardy. Not only can goats survive in harsh conditions, but they reproduce faster than other livestock and there is a strong market for goat meat. Goat procurement and production is important to improving food security in rural communities.
A new grain store was completed for the people of Mafaray in February 2016. Every family is involved in agricultural activities; most families grow peanuts, rice and cassava. With the new store, farmers will be able to protect their grains and seeds from dirt, moisture and animals such as rats, mice and bugs. In the past, most people stored their seeds in their homes where they were exposed to all those negative impacts which resulted in the loss of seeds. The newly constructed grain store has thick concrete walls that will keep the temperature even inside and not increase the humidity. The doors close properly and will prevent rats and other animals to come in easily.
In rural Sierra Leone, it is common for villages to go with very little food for two months each year. Known as “the hungry months”, this happens when a family’s stock of staple dried food runs out or spoils. The main staple foods are rice and peanuts, and drying is one of the few ways that the people have to preserve food between harvests. World Hope International has helped to construct concrete drying floors to reduce post-harvest losses of rice, peanuts, peppers and other crops. Crops are spread on the floors and are positioned to get maximum sun to reduce moisture so that the crops do not mold while being stored.
Health and Nutrition
In 2015, WHI, through the village partnership with Communities United Project, provided food relief for 75 suspected Ebola cases.