New solar-powered boreholes and hygiene awareness campaigns in eastern Senegal

For more than thirty years, Hydraulique Sans Frontières (HSF) has been sharing its expertise in providing access to clean water for populations in the Global South, with a particularly strong presence in Africa and Madagascar. This international solidarity association mobilizes around thirty active volunteers and five employees. It always operates at the request of local communities, prioritizing local businesses and labor to boost the local economy.

In the commune of Sinthiou Mamadou Boubou, located in eastern Senegal, HSF is working to benefit the population of four villages: Sinthiou Bilaly, Ndiakone, Vélingara, and Gonade. The traditional wells, about fifty meters deep, are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of residents, especially during the dry season. They are running dry for increasingly long periods, notably due to climate change. As a result, only a water-filled marsh in Vélingara remains, forcing women and children to carry basins of water over long distances from elsewhere.

HSF plans to install boreholes equipped with solar pumps in the villages of Ndiakone and Sinthiou Bilaly, complemented by reservoirs and distribution stands. These facilities will not only supply residents with drinking water but will also provide watering points dedicated to livestock.

Beyond the technical aspects, HSF supports communities in taking ownership of these new facilities. A socio-health assessment will help tailor hygiene awareness sessions and establish sustainable management of the installations, in close collaboration with the local economic interest group Lawool and the authorities of the Goudiry department.