Anopoco, Eticunda, Acuminca, Etinghoure, and Ancano are five villages located in some of the most remote regions of Guinea-Bissau. For the families living in these communities, daily life is defined by scarcity and hardship. Each day, residents—primarily women and children—walk for hours to reach distant water sources, often drawing from the same contaminated water used by animals. They do so not by choice, but because no safe alternative exists. This unsafe water frequently causes illness, compounding already high rates of malnutrition and deepening cycles of poverty. Gender inequality further limits opportunities for women, who bear the greatest burden of water collection and household survival.
Despite these challenges, the people of these villages are eager for change and committed to working alongside WellFound to improve their futures. With the right resources and community partnership, this project has the potential to transform the lives of more than 1,200 people by meeting essential human needs and creating pathways out of poverty.
The project takes a holistic approach to development by addressing water access, sanitation, nutrition, and economic opportunity simultaneously. Plans include the installation of five clean water pumps, the construction of 150 family latrines, and the establishment of five community market gardens. Together, these interventions will significantly reduce water-borne diseases, improve hygiene, and increase access to nutritious food. Community members will be trained to maintain and repair the water pumps, ensuring local ownership and long-term functionality. Women will receive training to establish and manage the market gardens, improving household nutrition while also generating additional income through the sale of surplus crops. These gardens not only strengthen food security but also promote gender equity by empowering women as leaders and income earners within their communities, while fostering collaboration, decision-making skills, and community resilience. In addition, these initiatives create opportunities for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and skill-building across generations, ensuring that the benefits of the project continue to grow and sustain the overall well-being of the villages.
Access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation dramatically reduces disease and eliminates the need to spend countless hours each day fetching water. This reclaimed time allows children to attend school more consistently and adults to pursue education, farming, or employment opportunities. Throughout the entire process, community members will be actively involved in decision-making, fostering accountability, dignity, and sustainability.
To ensure lasting impact, WellFound staff will remain engaged with the communities for three years, providing ongoing training, technical support, and guidance. This long-term partnership helps ensure that local leaders have the skills and confidence needed to sustain progress well beyond the project’s initial implementation, while fostering community ownership, strengthening local governance, and building the capacity to address future challenges independently. Regular monitoring and mentorship will also help adapt strategies to evolving needs, ensuring that improvements in water access, sanitation, nutrition, and economic opportunity continue to benefit generations to come.
By investing in clean water, sanitation, education, and women-led economic initiatives, this project lays the foundation for healthier communities, stronger families, and lasting development in some of Guinea-Bissau’s most underserved regions.
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