Our Smart Water Solutions: Micro dam combats negative impact of drought

Déby Samake lives with her husband and children in a small straw and mud house in Ouelessebougou, Mali. She wakes up at 5am each morning to pray and tend to her rice fields, but regular drought used to mean that the harvest was rarely enough to feed her family all year round.

She told us: “Our main problems were a shortage of food and a lack of money.”

To tackle this problem Islamic Relief built an innovative water system in Déby’s village. The community now has a micro dam to catch and store rainwater during the rainy months for use in the long dry periods. It also has three solar-powered installations to distribute water from the micro dam throughout the village.

Mali MicroDam Case Study 1

The change to Déby and her family’s lives has been huge.

“I’m very happy today,” she says. Thanks to Allah and Islamic Relief, I harvested enough cereals and vegetables for my family.

“Thanks to the dam, our situation is improving. Despite the lack of rain, I’m growing half a hectare of rice and half a hectare of vegetables. Next year, I hope to increase my production, growing enough food for my family and selling the rest to meet my grandchildren’s basic needs: health, education and clothing.”

This project has provided so much more than just water for Déby and her village – it’s given their children and grandchildren hope for a better future. Your donation to our Water for Life appeal means we can pull entire communities out of the cycle of poverty. By giving water, you can truly give life. Donate Now.

© Copyrights 2024 Islamic Relief SA. All rights reserved Charity Registration Number - 043-357-NPO

QUICK DONATE