“Happy with initiative”: Beneficiary of Water Project in South Sudanese Catholic Diocese

“We managed to get funds to drill seven boreholes before the rainy season begins in order to help communities lacking drinking water,” Fr. Mbikoyo said about the initiative being implemented in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State in partnership with SRF. 

With funding from the Washington DC-based non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating the provision of food, safe drinking water, clothing, shelter, medical attention and hope to the people of Sudan and South Sudan following an evaluation on projects in the two neighboring countries, the member of the Clergy of CDTY said the water project solves a longstanding challenge. 

The seven boreholes “are a hope for the local communities living in these areas because it’s not easy to get water,” Fr. Mbikoyo said about the water initiative that was first launched in the Eastern Deanery of Maridi, Mambe, Nzara, Yambio, Gangura and Ezo.

In the March 14 interviews with beneficiaries of the water initiative, Mr. Dungu told ACI Africa that that the water initiative “will help our people from getting diseases because they will have access to clean water.”

“The hand water borehole is very important because it produces clean water even during the dry season,” he said.

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Mr. Dungu went on to urge CODEP to facilitate the digging of additional boreholes in “remote areas for the inhabitants in these areas to access safe water.”

Another beneficiary of the water the SRF-funded water initiative, Sadia John, lauded the Catholic Church for facilitating the provision of “clean drinking water because our children have been drinking from the stream.”

The 26-year-old mother of two who is residing in Maridi added, “When it gets to the dry season, we lack water because the water will not be there and even sometimes we get dirty water from the well.”

On his part, Sabah Elias, also a beneficiary to the water initiative, called on CODEP to diversify the initiatives, citing gaps in “education and health to help the communities.”

“There is only one school in the Parish and there are many children,” he said, and added in reference to the need for formal educational facilities, “It’s important for our Church to consider that for our people.”

Another beneficiary, Hanna Jogo, told ACI Africa during the March 14 interviews that the water initiative “is important where water is scarce, especially in a place like Mambe that has experienced conflict.”

Patrick Juma Wani is a South Sudanese journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. Patrick holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Makerere Institute for Social Development (MISD) in Uganda. He has over 7 years of extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of media, advocacy, communication and multimedia strategy and operations, with an excellent track record of editorial leadership, budget management, and stakeholder outreach. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.