At Al-Ihsan Foundation, we believe every successful water project begins with listening.

Every community is different, so every project begins by understanding what people need most.

Before launching the Gambia Water Tap Initiative, our Projects Manager, Hady Abdallah, worked closely with trusted local partners in The Gambia to better understand the needs of the communities in Mandinaba and Brikama Misira.

Together, they explored existing water access, daily challenges and long-term priorities.

One question guided every conversation:

Those discussions shaped the solution.

The result is a solar-powered community water supply system designed to bring safe drinking water closer to where people live, learn and gather.

Providing access to safe drinking water is about more than drilling a borehole.

A reliable water supply depends on an entire system working together.

The Gambia Water Tap Initiative has been designed to construct one complete community water system that includes:

• •A community borehole
• •Solar-powered pump
• •Solar panels
• •Elevated water storage tank
• •Tank stand
• •Underground feeder pipelines
• •Community distribution network
• •250 strategically located water taps

Each component has an important role.

Together, they create one integrated system that delivers safe drinking water closer to the community.

The Journey of Every Drop

Every drop of water follows the same journey:

Step 1: Groundwater Is Accessed

A borehole is drilled to access groundwater beneath the surface.

This becomes the primary water source for the community.

Step 2: Solar Power Pumps the Water

Solar panels generate the energy needed to operate the water pump.

The pump lifts water from the borehole into an elevated storage tank.

Step 3: Water Is Stored

The elevated storage tank safely stores water while creating the pressure needed to distribute it throughout the community.

Step 4: Water Travels Through Underground Pipes

From the storage tank, water flows through underground feeder pipelines and the community distribution network.

Step 5: Water Reaches the Taps

The water is delivered to 250 strategically located community water taps, bringing safe drinking water closer to families and reducing the distance many people need to travel each day.

Water taps are where the community experiences the benefit of the entire system.

Every water project should reflect the needs of the community it serves.

For the Gambia Water Tap Initiative, strategically located community water taps were identified as the solution that could create the greatest long-term benefit.

Bringing water closer to where people live helps improve daily life in many ways.

Safer Access to Water

Water delivered through a piped distribution network reduces the need to repeatedly transport and store water over long distances, helping minimise the risk of contamination after collection.

Better Hygiene

When water is easier to access, everyday hygiene becomes easier too.

Families are better able to:

• •Wash their hands.
• •Prepare meals safely.
• •Bathe children.
• •Clean cooking utensils.
• •Keep their homes clean.
• •Perform wudu before prayer.

More Time Every Day

Reducing the distance people travel to collect water means more time for education, caring for family, work and supporting household livelihoods.

Water taps do more than provide water.

They help create opportunities.

One of the greatest strengths of the Gambia Water Tap Initiative is that it has been designed with the future in mind.

Providing access to safe drinking water is only the beginning.

For a water project to create lasting impact, it also needs to be reliable, practical and supported by the community it serves.

That is why sustainability has been built into every stage of this project.

Durable Infrastructure

The community water system has been designed using long-lasting infrastructure, including a borehole, solar-powered pumping system, elevated water storage and an underground distribution network.

Together, these components will provide reliable access to safe drinking water for years to come.

Powered by the Sun

The Gambia enjoys abundant sunshine throughout the year, making solar energy a practical and sustainable choice.

Solar-powered pumps help:

• •Reduce operating costs.
• •Minimise reliance on fuel.
• •Operate without unstable electricity supplies.
• •Improve long-term reliability.
• •Reduce environmental impact.

Supporting Healthy Communities

Access to safe drinking water is only one part of the solution.

The project also includes community education on:

• •Water conservation
• •Safe water storage
• •Handwashing
• •Personal hygiene
• •Sanitation

Helping people understand how to care for water is just as important as providing access to it.

Community Ownership

Long-term success depends on the people who use the system every day.

Local communities will be supported to help care for the infrastructure through practical maintenance and management systems.

When communities take ownership of essential infrastructure, they are better equipped to care for, maintain and protect it for future generations.

When complete, the Gambia Water Tap Initiative is expected to deliver:

• •One complete solar-powered community water supply system.
• •250 strategically located water taps.
• •Improved access to safe drinking water for approximately 250 families.
• •An estimated 1,250 direct beneficiaries.
• •Around 8,750 water collection visits every week.
• •Approximately 35,000 water collection visits every month.

Behind every number is a family with easier access to safe drinking water, more opportunities to practise good hygiene and more time for education, work and caring for loved ones.

Understanding how a project works helps us appreciate the lasting difference it can make.

The Gambia Water Tap Initiative is more than a construction project.

It is a long-term investment in health, dignity and opportunity for families in Mandinaba and Brikama Misira.

If you'd like to help make this project a reality, you can sponsor a family's water tap or contribute towards building the community water system.

Learn more about the Gambia Water Tap Initiative and sponsor a family's water tap today.