Ronyi 2, Yei River State, South Sudan

“Yei City and the surrounding areas became the epicentre of the conflict in South Sudan in 2016. Elderly and young children were especially vulnerable during this time. Santuke, a mother of eight and grandmother to many was faced with the difficult choice of leaving her home to face the unknown or remain where she was familiar with her surroundings, but risked her life as fighting was sure to advance to her village gradually. Santuke made the choice to travel 20 miles to the village of Uselego, where she felt she would be temporarily safe from the violence. Santuke longed for home, and in December of 2017, she traveled with other family members back to her home of Ronyi Village in Yei. She arrived to find her home intact, but the water well broken. The community accessed water from a seasonal water well. After heavy rain, it was challenging to drink from it because dirty runoff water flowed into it. But Santuke had no other choice because this was the only water source she could access. She physically could not travel long distances with heavy jerry cans to other villages. Typhoid, coupled with malaria, was common among many in her community. Santuke shared thanks and words of gratitude when the well in her village was restored. Clean, accessible water brings hope and health to all in her community.”

BP Friday
In-country partner

This project was undertaken as part of our campaign of projects that actively reduce carbon emissions. This project helped the community save their much needed wood which was previously being burnt daily to boil water. This project has also eliminated the many thousands of hours previously spent on walking to collect water.