. jAlbum 10 We are beginning to finish off some of the 48 hand dug wells we have helped to reinforce over the last three years. slides/001_Teppe.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 The village of Teppe was the place where we reinforced our first two wells. This is a very barren land for almost 8 months of the year. A local saying is, "Water is life!" The village of Teppe was the place where we reinforced our first two wells. This is a very barren land for almost 8 months of the year. A local saying is, "Water is life!" slides/001_Teppe.jpg slides/002_Villageoises - Villagers.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 A couple of the young ladies who get their water daily from the well we call "Seyni's well". The well is in the garden of Seyni, the village tailor. Although it is in his garden, it is shared by the community. A couple of the young ladies who get their water daily from the well we call "Seyni's well". The well is in the garden of Seyni, the village tailor. Although it is in his garden, it is shared by the community. slides/002_Villageoises - Villagers.jpg slides/003_Lisa et villageoise.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Here is how water is taken back from the well to home. Aren't you thankful for running water! Here is how water is taken back from the well to home. Aren't you thankful for running water! slides/003_Lisa et villageoise.jpg slides/004_Utilisation du puits - Use of the well.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 That's it, the second well that we reinforced with concrete rings. Notice that it is a bit of a mess. Leaving it for a couple years, allowed it to settle and the dirt around it to firm up. It is ready for a longlasting platform now. That's it, the second well that we reinforced with concrete rings. Notice that it is a bit of a mess. Leaving it for a couple years, allowed it to settle and the dirt around it to firm up. It is ready for a longlasting platform now. slides/004_Utilisation du puits - Use of the well.jpg slides/005_Porteuses d'eau - Water carriers.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 More water carriers. Before this well came along, the closest water was a long walk away. More water carriers. Before this well came along, the closest water was a long walk away. slides/005_Porteuses d'eau - Water carriers.jpg slides/006_Début projet - Beginning of project.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 The well with a ring that would become a water trough. The well with a ring that would become a water trough. slides/006_Début projet - Beginning of project.jpg slides/007_Chantier - Construction site.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Getting ready for the work. The construction site. Getting ready for the work. The construction site. slides/007_Chantier - Construction site.jpg slides/008_Outils de construction - Construction tools.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Everything is done by hand. The gravel was brought from a couple kilometers away by donkey cart. This is one of the contributions of the local population. Everything is done by hand. The gravel was brought from a couple kilometers away by donkey cart. This is one of the contributions of the local population. slides/008_Outils de construction - Construction tools.jpg slides/009_Fabrication de briques - Brick building.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Getting ready to make the bricks. All done by hand with one little mold. Getting ready to make the bricks. All done by hand with one little mold. slides/009_Fabrication de briques - Brick building.jpg slides/010_Briques - Bricks.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 The work progresses. We insisted, because of the constant wetness of the area, that they make the bricks with more ciment in them than usual bricks in Niger. The work progresses. We insisted, because of the constant wetness of the area, that they make the bricks with more ciment in them than usual bricks in Niger. slides/010_Briques - Bricks.jpg slides/011_Surveillants de chantier - Site supervisors.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Always some spectators waiting for the day when they will be able to help with the work. Always some spectators waiting for the day when they will be able to help with the work. slides/011_Surveillants de chantier - Site supervisors.jpg slides/012_Milieu du projet - Middle of project.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 A good foundation is poured and the wall begins. A good foundation is poured and the wall begins. slides/012_Milieu du projet - Middle of project.jpg slides/013_Enfants au puits - Kids at the well.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Excitement! Excitement! slides/013_Enfants au puits - Kids at the well.jpg slides/014_Acier d'armature - Rebars.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Re-bar for the platform is well done and will soon be ready to be placed around the well. Re-bar for the platform is well done and will soon be ready to be placed around the well. slides/014_Acier d'armature - Rebars.jpg slides/015_Maçons à l'oeuvre - Masons.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Niger has a lot of good macons as very little construction is done with wood. If one can afford a permanent dwelling, it will be made of cinder blocks. Niger has a lot of good macons as very little construction is done with wood. If one can afford a permanent dwelling, it will be made of cinder blocks. slides/015_Maçons à l'oeuvre - Masons.jpg slides/016_Compaction du sol - Ground compaction.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Compacting the gravel that will serve as base for the platform. Compacting the gravel that will serve as base for the platform. slides/016_Compaction du sol - Ground compaction.jpg slides/9 Wells.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Rebar looks good! All that much better when the picture is taken from a tree. Rebar looks good! All that much better when the picture is taken from a tree. slides/9 Wells.jpg slides/017_Touche Finale - Final touch.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Finishing touches on the platform. They put a bit of ciment powder on the top and smoothen it out so as to give a very smooth service that will provide for good drainage. Finishing touches on the platform. They put a bit of ciment powder on the top and smoothen it out so as to give a very smooth service that will provide for good drainage. slides/017_Touche Finale - Final touch.jpg slides/018_Prêt à utiliser - Ready to use.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 A channel is made that will take water out to the watering trough. A channel is made that will take water out to the watering trough. slides/018_Prêt à utiliser - Ready to use.jpg slides/019_Moutons au puits - Sheeps at the well.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 This is a whole lot better than serving the sheep from a pail one or two at a time. This is a whole lot better than serving the sheep from a pail one or two at a time. slides/019_Moutons au puits - Sheeps at the well.jpg slides/AlmostDone.jpg# Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:08:40 +0100 Well, it's almost done! We will go back to put on a door to keep the animals out and a hinged lid that will keep it much safer. May this serve to provide water in a hygienic and safe way for years to come. Well, it's almost done! We will go back to put on a door to keep the animals out and a hinged lid that will keep it much safer. May this serve to provide water in a hygienic and safe way for years to come. slides/AlmostDone.jpg