Salesians drill borewell, install tank and solar pump.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (June 18, 2025) Salesian missionaries have been able to provide clean water for people in the village of Isi-Obi Ukwu, Nigeria, thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The project, part of the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”, is positively impacting more than 3,300 people living in the village.
Isi-Obi Ukwu has poor road conditions and no stable electricity. The area lacked any safe drinking water. If there is water in the rainy season, it’s often polluted as flood waters drain into two rivers where villagers wash their clothes and soak their cassava bags for fermentation. Before drinking the water, people sift it and let it settle, and even then, the water can make them sick. In dry periods, the volume of the rivers is greatly reduced, leaving people with little water.
With donor funding, Salesians were able to drill a borewell then install a tank and solar pump. The new system provides safe drinking water and water for other uses, like cooking. As a result, there has been a decrease in waterborne illness and an increase in better hygiene practices.
One of the villagers impacted by the donation is Ebere Egbechuo. He said, “Before the borewell, we had to walk long distances for unsafe water. It was leading to health issues and took the time that could have been spent on more productive activities. My hope for the future is better health for all of us, especially the children in the village. I am concerned about making sure the borewell and pump remain working, and so we in the village are meeting to make sure we can do the upkeep and maintenance.”
According to UNICEF, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the ninth most populous country in the world. By United Nations estimates, Nigeria will be one of the countries responsible for most of the world’s total population increase by 2050. While Nigeria has the second strongest economy in Africa, it also has extreme rates of poverty with 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.
About 64% of households in Nigeria consider themselves to be poor while 32% of households say their economic situation had worsened over a period of one year, according to UNICEF. Poverty still remains one of the most critical challenges facing the country and population growth rates have meant a steady increase in the number of people living in conditions of poverty.
To learn more about the Salesian Missions Clean Water Initiative, go to SalesianMissions.org/water.
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About Salesian Missions USA
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.