03/08/2026
For generations, the people of Mankobo, a remote riverine community of 446 residents in Yoni Mamaila Chiefdom, Tonkolili District, lived with the daily hardship of not having access to safe drinking water. As one of the beneficiary communities under the Food Security through Equitable and Climate-Smart Food Systems (YOTI-YOTI) Project, funded by Concern Worldwide with support from Irish Aid and implemented by WASH-Net Sierra Leone, the community's story has become one of resilience, hope, and transformation.
Before the intervention, accessing water was a daily struggle. Families depended on an unprotected seasonal well, nearby streams, and shallow hand-dug pits in stream beds during the dry season. Every trip to collect water came with uncertainty and risk. Women and children often spent hours walking to unsafe water sources, carrying heavy containers back home, while knowing the water they collected could make their families sick. Waterborne diseases were a constant threat, and the time spent searching for water meant less time for farming, education, childcare, and other productive activities.
Reaching Mankobo to construct a safe water facility was itself a major challenge. The community is isolated, with no bridge for vehicles to cross, and construction materials had to be transported from outside because they were unavailable locally. Despite these obstacles, WASH-Net Sierra Leone, working closely with the community with support from Concern Worldwide, successfully completed the construction of a protected hand-dug well, ensuring that no family would have to rely on unsafe water sources again.
Today, the sound of children laughing around the new well has replaced the anxiety of long journeys in search of water. Mothers no longer wake before dawn to fetch water from unsafe streams, and families can now collect clean, safe water just a short distance from their homes. The community is already experiencing improved hygiene practices and greater confidence that illnesses linked to contaminated water will decline. With more time available for farming, education, and income-generating activities, households are better positioned to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their resilience.
For the people of Mankobo, the new well is far more than a piece of infrastructure—it is a symbol of dignity, health, and renewed hope. It represents the belief that even the most isolated communities deserve access to essential services and that, through strong partnerships and community commitment, lives can be transformed. The completion of this well stands as a lasting investment in the health, well-being, and future of the people of Mankobo, ensuring that safe water is no longer a daily struggle but a foundation for sustainable development.
