Wells for Burkina Faso

In the communities along the rim of the Sahara Desert, water is a scarce commodity. The water table is typically too deep for hand-dug wells, and inadequate rainfalls means there are no permanent lakes or rivers. This lack of access to safe drinking water has serious health implications; water-borne disease is a major cause of infant mortality in this region.

The aims of the project are to: Help in church planting and church growth through providing clean water to Burkina Faso communities that do not have clean water available. In 2009 we are planning to drill 17 wells for the following two different areas in the western part of Burkina Faso. In the SEBBA region nine villages and seven wells in the LIPTOUGOU region. The SIM Burkina Faso team will work with both local and international partners, such as Friends in Action and local drilling company Beth-Tsur, to ensure the most cost effective methods of drilling.

The well-drilling programme is incorporated into an holistic strategy of evangelism and church planting. SIM's church partner, the 'Eglises Evangeliques/SIM' (EE/SIM), leads over 500 established and developing churches. Burkinabe and SIM missionaries work side-by-side in seven locations, mostly in holistic ministries to the Muslim Fulani tribe. In each location, discipleship and Bible teaching are integrated with a response to physical needs. The Muslim Fulanis are historically not receptive to the Gospel, but practical ministry lends credibility and has inspired an unprecedented readiness to listen.