By Zainab Jobarteh
Access to safe and clean drinking water, a basic human necessity, is one of the key developmental interventions transforming lives in rural Gambia. For the people of Kusamai Village in Foni Bintang Karani, this intervention has been nothing short of life changing. Yahya Jarjou, a youth leader in Kusamai, recounts how the entire village struggled daily to access clean water, relying solely on wells. This limited many of their activities, particularly agriculture, which is the main source of livelihood for most of the villagers. Determined to find a solution, Mr. Jarjou and other members of the village met with President Barrow on December 23, 2023 to discuss their constraints, water being a top priority. During the discussion, the President promised to address the issue without delay.
‘‘And he did exactly that in less than three weeks,’’ Mr. Jarjou said with a smile. True to his word, the President sent a team to Kusamai before the second week of January to drill a borehole for the community. The 10,000 litre borehole has completely transformed the lives of the villagers. While it provides them with safe drinking water, it has also revitalized their agricultural activities, which had almost come to a halt due to water constraints.
The villagers have come up with a unique strategy to maximize the use of their new water resource. While adults focus on tending gardens outside their homes, growing a variety of vegetables, they encourage their children to grow bananas within their home compounds. This approach has boosted food production and brought new hope to the village. ‘‘The borehole changed our lives,’’ Mr. Jarjou kept saying as he narrated their story.
When asked about the old wells, he replied, “When you have a borehole, you forget about the wells.’’ This story from Kusamai shows how targeted interventions can make a significant impact in rural communities. Through the quick response of President Barrow, the people of Kusamai have gained access to clean water and have also been empowered to rebuild their livelihoods and strengthen their community.
