17th August 2015

Today busy day of work with many problems and unfortunately some bad surprises. Today’s goal was to dig the first hole for the Kankao well but, once I went to the village, I didn’t find what I expected. The agreements made with the local contact who had shown me the need, was that the well was to serve about 25 families who were a few km away from the first available well. Instead, the reality that I found was of a place with few houses, few people and about 500 meters far, an already active and functioning well. Adding the fact that one of these houses belonged to that person and the well to be built would have been right in front of his house… The disappointment mixed with anger was great but I didn’t feel like pretending anything and, despite the auger had already arrived on site, I didn’t give the go ahead to start digging. I explained my motivations and those of everyone who had contributed to this project and I told him that we would not build a well there because there were no conditions of real need that I expected and that he had guaranteed me. We then diverted the auger to the second village which is about 5 km away. There promises have been kept and the need exists.
The work began surrounded by intrigued children, not before a lucky prayer and the help of the local diviner who indicated the exact point where to dig (unfortunately I can’t upload the video, but the search was done with a bottle of coca-cola full of water … and the results have been seen …).
Unfortunately after 3 hours of work and 57 meters of excavation we have not found a single drop of water! Incredible, something that never happened in these parts where, they tell me, the water is at most within 40/45 meters.
Unfortunately, in these cases nothing can be done except to try again, moving a few tens of meters. Which we will do in the morning by starting to dig at 5 and crossing our fingers!
With this other disappointment of the day, we left together with Agostino who knew of another village that needed a well and I wanted to see the local reality live to see for myself. Not without first having punctured a tire, we arrived at the new village.
The village really needs it, there are about 200 isolated families and therefore, once the works of the first well have been completed, the idea is to move there for the second well.
Of course tomorrow we should be lucky and find water otherwise it will be a problem, even with the company…
I’m sorry for the mistake that happened today but the reason of coming here to check that all your contributions were successful was the main reason for my trip and I didn’t feel like building the well in Kankao where I told you I would done.
In the photos you can see some moments of the works, some superstitious good luck ritual and coring at different depths.
See you tomorrow with updates that I hope much better!
Hi!