The project involves the drilling and equipping of productive deep wells to provide sustainable sources of water to the neediest populations and their livestock. Each well is provided with the required accessories and has an elevated water tank, a pump, and a solar unit to provide the required power for the operation of the well. The project came as a response to the 2011-2012 famine in Somalia. To provide a sustainable solution to the recurring drought and famine problem in the region, the project sought to dig 72 deep wells to provide access to safe and clean drinkable water which will save the vulnerable communities that were exposed to droughts over the past years. In addition, 35 Islamic schools are planned to be built and furnished near some of the wells.

Objectives

1. To save the people from the droughts that frequently befall this country and to rescue the livestock .
2. To construct primary schools in the vicinity of wells in order to support the population around and near the wells and to encourage migrants to return.
3. To conduct studies and provide training for capacity building in both the water and education sectors, which will consequently help in managing the operation, utilization and sustainability of the facilities.

Beneficiaries

A total of 64 wells are now fully operational and providing water to around 500,000 beneficiaries. The targeted 35 schools, when completed, will benefit about 7,350 students.

Expected Socioeconomic Results

The supply of water for drinking and irrigation is vital for stability and ending the suffering of the population in drought-prone areas. This is necessary for the resettlement of displaced families to help them resume their normal life, of which an important part is the education of their children.

Implementation Timeline and Progress

Implementation started in early 2014 and the drilling of wells was completed by the end of 2018. The building of schools in the vicinity of some wells started in April 2017 and now 28 schools as been completed and operating. j

Success Story: Narrated by Fatima (a student's) mother

I always had a dream to take my daughter to school but wondered how I can do that while all her daily life is consumed with finding water. She wakes up early in the morning and walks for 8km, just to bring water enough for cooking. One day she came back with the water looking extremely tired and her eyes were full of tears. I pretended not to see her; I did not want to see my daughter’s tears and feel helpless, a horrible feeling. After a while, I went to her room, where I found her lying down on the mattress. I approached her very slowly and touched her head, she was sweating excessively. I asked her whether she was ok. Instead of answering, she asked why God made some people poor and others extremely rich?

That was a very difficult question for a mother who has limited knowledge. All I could say to her was something I learned from my father as a child: Their wealth does not mean that Allah loves them, and our poverty does not mean that Allah hates us. “So, what does it mean, mum?” asked my daughter. I told her that it means Allah is testing both of us, both rich and poor. Allah is testing the poor for patience and acceptance of fate, and the rich for benevolence. In Islam, it is understood that the real owner of all wealth is Allah. Man only owns wealth by proxy. My daughter, still in tears, asked me, “But why don’t the rich think of us then?” I replied to her confidently, “THEY WILL INSHALLAH”. When I woke up the following morning, I saw drilling equipment around the area and realized it was a borehole project by the Islamic Development Bank and King Abdullah Foundation. I ran to surprise my daughter, who started to cry even more than before, but this time they were tears of happiness. After few months of completing the borehole project, the school project was also already there. My daughter is one of the students who study at this school now, and she uses her time to do her schoolwork instead of wasting her time walking 8km to bring water home. Both my daughter and I pray for the Islamic Development Bank and King Abdullah Foundation.