Thanks to a partnership between OBI and Hosanna Institute, water wells are being built in Niger.

NIGER – It took less than six degrees of separation to bring together one mission of drilling waters wells for remote villages in Niger.

In the early 90s, Yacouba Seydou left his native Niger to attend school in Oklahoma. During his academic career, he attended a local church and gained the support of members who wanted to reach out to those in need in Africa.

Together they formed the "Hosanna Institute" with the church committing to provide monetary, physical and technical support for Yacouba's efforts on the ground in Niger.

In the midst of their partnership, the church came upon a well drilling rig and was able to obtain it for long-term use in training Nigeriens how to drill their own wells. Teams were sent from Oklahoma to Niger twice a year to work with the locals.

However, none of the men from the U.S. knew how to drill a well.

Church volunteers from Oklahoma and local residents gather around one of the water wells to celebrate the finished construction.

That's where Operation Blessing's Romania Director, Liviu Neagoe entered the picture. Liviu was not only a professional well driller, but he had a long-time dream of teaching Africans to drill for their own water.

Last November, Liviu met a team of volunteers from Oklahoma and Yacouba, now OBI's national director for Niger. Together, the crew spent a week being trained on the use of the machines.

The Oklahoma team also brought replacement parts for the drills that were in use. In addition, they held medical missions, treating more than 8,000 people to date, as well as provided instruction to local villagers in agriculture and good hygiene.

The church's goal is to send two teams a year to the villages that need the most help.

The partnership between Hosanna Institute and OBI continues to break ground in more ways than searching for water.

In January, OBI along with German nonprofit Humedica and Hosanna Institute opened a hospital in Niger that will provide a 24-hour maternity ward and free care to children under age 5.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Help break the cycle of suffering by giving toward Operation Blessing's water wells and cisterns program. A gift of $1,000 can drill a well for villages and supply families with safe, clean drinking water.

 

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