Tendaba Community Celebrates Steady Water Supply and Improved Livelihoods

May 6, 2025

Women and girls at the newly installed water point in Tendaba, Kiang district. The community now has reliable access to clean water, saving time and improving daily life for all, especially women and children.

In the famous safari-style rural tourism camp of Tendaba, located in Kiang district, Lower River Region, access to clean water was once a struggle. The community, known for its agriculture and tourism, relied on a single borehole that couldn’t provide enough water to meet their needs. Children queued for hours to fetch water, and women had to make do with little water in the evenings. That all changed when local leaders reached out to ChildFund for help.

“This borehole has made a huge difference for our community. We had a borehole before, but it wasn’t supplying enough water for everyone. From early morning until around 2 p.m., we had no access to water at all. That’s when ChildFund intervened. They brought in water tanks, pipes, and taps, connecting the whole community to a reliable water system. Now, we have access to water 24 hours a day,” says Awa, a mother of four. “The taps are spread throughout the village, and we even have water available continuously for the nursery school.”

Sarjo Trawally, the Secretary of the Village Development Committee (VDC), highlighted the significant improvements brought by the new water system to the community of over 2,000 people. He explained that the availability of water has allowed families to establish backyard gardens, boosting food production and productivity.

A view of the newly installed solar-powered water infrastructure in Tendaba Community, featuring a 10,000-liter water tank.

“Before the borehole, our women suffered because water was scarce throughout the day. We only had access to a small amount of water in the evening, which wasn’t enough for the whole community. Children used to queue for water. Now, thanks to this borehole, important places in the village, such as the Early Childhood Development Center, which is also supported by ChildFund with play equipment, along with the village market and the mosque, all benefit from the water supply. Every corner of the village now has a tap, ensuring that water is within reach of even the farthest households.”

Tendaba is one of the communities in the Lower River Region that has benefited from ChildFund’s child sponsorship program since 1984. Through its local partner, Saama Kairo Federation, ChildFund provides essential support in clean water, sanitation, health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, child protection, and youth development. The programs target children from birth to 24 years, with a special focus on those living in deprived areas and low-income households.