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Liberia

Completed Safe Drinking Water Supply
Completed Community Washroom
Completed Equipment Training and Support Services
Completed Health and Hygiene Training Program
Completed Pump Repair Project
Completed Pump Replacement Projects
Meet the Team
Liberia Links


Lifewater's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene work in Liberia

No one knows the value of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene more than the people of Liberia. In 1989, Liberia's 127 years of peaceful democracy was shattered when a civil war erupted. it lasted for eight years until 1997, and was followed by another from 1989 to 2003.

More than 200,000 people were killed. During the near-constant fighting, most wells and other water supplies were destroyed -- sending desperate people on a search for safe water that continues for many of them today. Very few wells exist and many are contaminated, broken, or over-used. People are often forced to draw water from stagnant swamps or ditches and therefore water-borne diseases (dysentery, cholera, infectious hepatitis) are common.

Liberia WaSH water and sanitation (watsan) map WaSH sourceChild With Gun WaSH sourceLiberian Child

In 1995, Lifewater was invited to help Liberians address this water and sanitation crisis. Our volunteers were asked by the European Union and the Liberian government to conduct the first systematic testing of 150 communal wells in the capital city of Monrovia. The report said:

We responded by introducing water and sanitation programs plus training. Today, thanks to donors like you, our Liberian team is drilling new wells, rehabilitating dormant wells, installing and maintaining hand pumps, building communal toilets and hand-washing stations, and providing health and hygiene training. Hundreds of thousands of Liberians have benefited from this work that has also saved the lives of many children and adults!

However, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (0ECD) still ranks Liberia as one of 34 countries furthest from others in achieving the United Nations' International Development Goals. With your support, we can continue to help Liberia rebuild by focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in priority settings including schools, clinics, orphanages, and rural villages.

 

The Lifewater Liberia team

 Liberia Team - Group Photo.jpg 267 KB

 

Sarah Taylor, Board Chairwoman

James Ngunda, Board Vice-Chairman

Lawrence Gray, Board Treasurer

 

Liberia Team - Rev. Stephen Varfee.jpg 30 KB

 Rev. Stephen Varfee, Board Secretary, Lifewater Liberia Project Coordinator

Stephen has been Project Coordinator since 2017. He leads the Liberia well drilling and pump repair/replacement program, with responsibility for all of its daily activities. Stephen is also the Senior Pastor of New Harvest Church, a member of the Africa Leadership Peace Ambassadors organization, and a strong advocate for children’s education and young women in leadership. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Public Administration, and diplomas in Pastoral Ministry and Social Work.

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Henry S. Tengbeh.jpg 127 KB Henry S. Tengbeh, Administrative Assistant

Henry began assisting the project coordinator in late 2021. He came to Lifewater Liberia after serving in managerial roles with several organizations including, most recently, a major Liberian transportation company where he was Administrative and Human Resources Manager. Henry has a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Liberia in Economics, and diplomas in Computer Science.

 

 

 

  

Liberia Team - Boakia Thomas.jpg 30 KB  Boakia Thomas, Senior Driller and Supervisor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Kollie

Rocky G. Kollie, Senior Driller and Supervisor

Rocky is a hard-working and humble man. It was only after years of working with him that we learned he'd been a member of Liberia's national soccer team! He is passionate about his work in repairing hand pumps because he has seen how badly a community's health can suffer when pumps remain broken and wells are unused.

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Elton Thomas.jpg 37 KBJoseph Elton Thomas, Driller and Driver

Elton joined Lifewater Liberia in 2007 as a driver and soon became one of two drillers on the LS100 drilling rig. His prayer "is to God almighty and our partners to build for us a better Lifewater and improve our skills in our day-to-day activities as pump technicians and drillers." Elton attended the Assembly of God Mission School and obtained his high school diploma and WAEC Certificate from the Suakoko Government School. 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayah Bombo Kelvin Fayiah Bomboo, Driller and Driver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Matthew Sando.jpg 40 KB Matthew Sando, Driller and Driver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Tarkpor Johnson Charles Tarkpor Johnson, Drilling Trainee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Victor Dolo.jpg 71 KB Victor Dolo, Lead Mechanic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saye Waquoi Saye Waquoi, Mechanic

Saye joined Lifewater in February 2014 as a mechanic. He has a BBA Degree in Management from the Stella Maris Polytechnic, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, and a Vocational Diploma in General Mechanics from Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Liberia.

 

 

 

 

 

 William VesseleeWilliam Vesselee, Mobilization Team Leader, Handpump Assessment Project Leader

William joined Lifewater in 2008, was trained as a Health & Hygiene Trainer, obtained his professional driving diploma, and became Community Mobilization Team Leader in 2010. In 2012, he also became the Handpump Assessment Project Leader, responsible for assessing handpumps and implementing simple repairs. William documents factors that contribute to handpumps remaining unrepaired while people revert to hauling unsafe water from distant sources.

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Rev. Haven Johnson.jpg 23 KB Rev. Haven Johnson, Evangelist with Health and Hygiene Training Team, and Community Mobilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Tawah Bondoo.jpg 57 KB Tawah Bundoo, Health and Hygiene Trainer, Community Mobilizer

Tawah is certified by Lifewater Canada as a Health & Hygiene Trainer and Community Mobilizer. She helps communities participate in well drilling and handpump planting projects to ensure the pumps have long lives. She has also co-led more than 200 workshops in various communities, including many in schools, churches, and mosques.

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Blessing Kesselee.jpg 50 KB Blessing Kesselee, Health and Hygiene Trainer, Community Mobilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Sangbeh Dennis.jpg 38 KB Sangbeh Dennis, Head of Security and Compound Maintenance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank Green Frank Green, Pump Repairs Leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberia Team - Francis Kafie.jpg 28 KB Francis Kafie, Security and Compound Maintenance

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Peter_Johnson Peter S. Johnson, Security Guard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Wellington DiggsWellington Diggs, Security Guard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play the six-minute video of Lifewater in Liberia
(Songs are from a 200-voice African Choir Celebrating Lifewater's 200th well in Liberia!)

 

Important Liberia Website Links 


Every $1 you give provides a child with safe water for a year!


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