Church Collaborates with Catholic Relief Services for Water System In Liberia 

On May 2, 2022, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, in collaboration with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), turned over to the people of Red Hill Community in Paynesville, Montserrado County, Liberia a giant Wash Project, something local residents of that community had yearned for over the years. This project will benefit more than 7000 individuals living in that community who, for so long, have struggled for access to a clean water supply within their community.

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The system which was turned over consists of a water tower with a storage capacity of 12,000 gallons (45,000 liters), two boreholes with depths of 150 meters and 170 meters that supply water to the tower, four extended kiosks for water distribution in key parts of the community, solar panels with 10kwh of electricity to power the pumps, and an automatic chlorinated dosing system to treat the water it extracts from the boreholes.

The hand over ceremony took place at the project's site, a parcel of land which was graciously donated for the project by community members Mr. Nyan Brown and his wife. Attending the ceremony was a large turnout of community members headed by community Chairperson Madam Nyamah Lablah. The Church was represented by Elder Prince S. Nyanforh, a newly called Area Seventy in Liberia; Elder and Sister Haddock, senior humanitarian couple missionaries serving in Liberia; young full time missionaries serving in the area; and the Communication and Publishing Department of the Church (CPD). Various other government and business officials also attended.

In her remarks during the turnover ceremony, Madam Nyamah Lablah, Chairperson of the Red Hill Community, thanked the Church, the CRS and other partners for undertaking such a significant project which, she said, is going to give them relief in accessing safe drinking water: "You people made our dream come through. We have really suffered for water in this community.  Our children usually went to school late because of this same water business. Water is life; we want to thank the Latter-day Saints family, the CRS, and all who have worked tirelessly to bring life to our community."

Madam Lablah noted that many times children were sent home from schools for being late, which tardiness was the result of standing in a very long cue at the local well just to access water to prepare for school. According to her, many children wake up as early as 2 am to go to the well so as to be early in line to fetch water. Frequently, they return home as late as 11 am with just two gallons of water because the well has dried up, a continual challenge due to the rocky hill where the community is situated.

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Theophilus Davis, a CRS Technical Advisor, praised the Church sponsored water project as the "biggest, improved and modernized" wash project the CRS has undertaken since they started the  Helping To Elevate The Lives Of People  (HELPS) project in 2021.  "We're not just dedicating a water facility, but we're dedicating something that has been improved and modernized and is going to expand through different sections of the community" he added. He praised the the Church for providing the funding to carry out the construction of the project while noting that the CRS provided the funding for the operation, personnel and other activities during the construction period. He also acknowledged local NGOs such as the Evangelical Children Rehabilitation Program ( ECREP) Liberia, the Premier Construction Group, and the Liberian government's Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation (LWSC) for their contribution to the completion of the project.

In his remarks, Elder Haddock expressed joy in the way community members showed their appreciation for the project and thanked everyone who collaborated in the project's implementation's process. He  encouraged community members to own and protect what was given them, adding that the money used to fund the project came from sacred donations from faithful members of the Church as well as from other goodwill individuals around the world who strive to help provide relief for struggling people everywhere. He concluded by saying "We're happy that we could serve you today."

Recipients who gave remarks praised the donor partners for constructing such an important water facility for the community, and they charged their own community members as well as those responsible for managing the system to avoid imposing service fees on the people who use the system, and to maintain the facility properly so that it can serve the community for a longer time.

The ceremony was concluded by a dramatic performance by youth of the community, the gowning of Nyan Brown and wife who donated their land for the construction of the project, the cutting of a ribbon, and a tour of the facility.