There has been a heightened need in the developing world for hand-washing and other sanitation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These practices require water, which is almost always in short supply.

That was certainly true at GSS Yangoji, a government-owned school serving several communities in Nigeria. When the pandemic hit, hundreds of students needed to start regularly wash their hands, while desks, shelves, walls, and other surfaces in the school had to be constantly sanitized. There was a water well near the school but the pump was failing and so there wasn’t enough water for everyone’s needs.

Lifewater donors enabled our team to arrive and replace the well’s broken hand pump and other major components. Now the school has hand-washing stations at several locations in the compound, and the risk of COVID-19 has been dramatically reduced.

Hosea Apeh, leader of our repair team in Nigeria, says it was a pleasure to get the well working again because “when we fixed it, the school leaders and students expressed so much joy.”