How integrated water system is restoring hope and strengthening local ownership

For many years, communities in Afgoi town faced a difficult daily struggle to secure enough water to support their growing population. Because local water infrastructure was missing, this heavy burden fell primarily on women and young girls, who had to walk long distances under the hot sun every day which kept many young girls out of school.  Drinking this unclean water caused terrible health impacts on the Afgoi communities, spreading painful illnesses like cholera and diarrhea. Families were trapped in a sad cycle of poor health and poverty, always worrying about where their next drink of water would come from.

To change this, New Ways Organization took action. Communities in Afgoi  Under SHF drought Allocation funding from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund to build a lasting solution instead of just bringing water in trucks for a few days. With this funding, they replaced old, broken wells with brand-new  solar-powered and rehabilitated water pumps. These pumps use the clean energy of the sun to bring water right into the neighborhoods, making it safe and reliable.

The change brought immediate relief to mothers who used to worry every day about their family’s safety. Sahra, a mother living in Afgoi, shared how much happier her home is now:

“Before New Ways implemented the solar-water pumps and water tap connection near my house free of charge , my children spent their entire mornings carrying heavy jerrycans from distant, dirty water sources. It has completely eased my children’s chores, and for the first time, they can get to their school lessons clean, rested, and on time.”

This project did more than just shorten the long walks; it brought the whole community together. New Ways Organization ensured that people form a local water committee so they could take care of the pumps and solar powered water system themselves.

“These new solar powered systems and water tap connections have brought our community together and given us a lasting asset. We no longer have to watch our children get sick from river water or worry about the high cost of fuel to keep our wells pumping; the sun gives us our water now, and we are fully committed to protecting this system.”

In a country like Somalia, where severe droughts happen very often, projects like this are absolute lifelines. They show that when we invest in green energy and local groups, communities can stand strong against climate change. A New Ways Project Officer explained why this type of support matters so much for the future of the country:

“Securing localized funding through the SHF allows us to build resilience exactly where it is needed most. Financing sustainable water projects in drought-prone areas in Somalia is the only way to save lives long-term, shifting our focus from temporary relief to permanent, climate-smart independence.”

By connecting local funding with the power of the sun, New Ways Organization has given the people of Afgoi a brighter, healthier future where clean water is a basic right, not a daily struggle.