At the beginning of September, Charlène and Lucas joined the HCA and Monreseaudeau.fr team to provide support and business development for some of our projects.
Their integration into the world of water is being accelerated by preparations for the Pollutec 2023 exhibition and support for the Hydraulique Sans Frontières (HSF) association as part of the Water Hub.
We explain all about this Special Operation in this article.
The commitment of Hydraulique Sans Frontières
For 32 years, Hydraulique Sans Frontières (HSF) has been the embodiment of humanitarian commitment to access to drinking water and sanitation. The association, which has 250 members and is supported by 60 active volunteers and 5 employees, implements projects in seven countries, including Togo, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Morocco, and Bolivia.
Its approach is based on local partnerships, working closely with associations, village groups and local authorities. Work on the ground is carried out by local companies, under the supervision of works supervisors and the HSF team in France.
They target rural and semi-urban areas, guaranteeing the sustainability of the work through hygiene awareness campaigns and training for the managers of the works. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including local authorities, private companies, and donations from individuals.
It is estimated that 2 billion people do not have access to domestic drinking water services. In addition, 2.3 billion people do not have access to basic hand-washing facilities. Lack of sanitation affects 3.6 billion people, deprived of toilets with a sewer system or pit, ventilated pit latrines or pit with slab, composting toilet. The human cost of this situation is high, with 361,000 children under the age of 5 losing their lives every year to diarrhoea linked to inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene. In Africa, women and girls often spend up to 6 hours a day collecting water. These alarming figures come from the United Nations and the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for 2021.
Making HSF visible on the Water Hub illustrates the water sector's solidarity and commitment to those most in need. It is a powerful testimony to the unity that drives the players in the field to face up to the major challenges linked to access to water and sanitation.
Focus on the project in Karang, Senegal
The town of Karang, located in the department of Foundioune in the Fatick region of Senegal, plays a crucial role as a border town with Gambia. By the end of 2023, its population will have grown to around 19,000, forming a dynamic community.
The town is home to eight elementary schools with no fewer than 2,937 pupils. In addition, the main bus station sees 2,500 people pass through every day, with around 300 vehicle movements. Infrastructure includes two health posts, a bustling market with 253 canteens, 10 souks, 40 shops, 9 bakeries, 2 pharmacies and a petrol station.
As for drinking water, two boreholes supply two water towers, complemented by 60 wells. However, frequent power cuts hamper the operation of the pumps. The sanitation situation is also worrying, with dilapidated communal facilities and a lack of equipment in schools. Although most households are equipped with traditional latrines, there are deficits in some areas. Emptying is carried out either manually, using buckets, or by lorry, at high cost.
In response to these challenges, HSF is planning a two-phase intervention. The first aims to meet the need for collective sanitation and to improve access to drinking water in schools. To achieve these objectives, a number of actions are planned, including a socio-health diagnosis and improved management of public latrines.
There are plans to install shallow micro-boreholes in two schools, equipped with solar pumps and 2,000-litre tanks. In addition, a solar pumping system will be installed on an existing borehole in one school, and an existing well will be rehabilitated.
At the same time, family latrines will be installed in a priority neighbourhood, and public latrines will be built in four of the town's schools. Awareness-raising campaigns and capacity-building for service managers will also be rolled out.
To complete this project, €5,900 is needed to supplement the funding already in place. This sum will be used to fund the following projects in the schools :
Two micro boreholes
Rehabilitation of a well
Two 2000-litre water tanks
A programme to raise awareness of good hygiene practices among schoolchildren and teachers.
The ultimate aim is to ensure sustainable access to quality drinking water for the region's schoolchildren and teachers, a crucial step towards a healthier, more prosperous future for the Karang community.
The support of the Monreseaudeau.fr team
The Monreseaudeau.fr team has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to this crucial cause. It is putting in place a special "HSF" commercial offer under which a quarter of the revenue generated will be donated to Hydraulique Sans Frontières.
The campaign is specifically aimed at Pollutec exhibitors, who will also benefit from a 25% discount on the PV+ subscription and on certain advertising services. The operation is scheduled to run from 10 to 31 October 2023, providing an ideal time to contribute to this essential effort.
In addition to the financial aspect, the HSF operation aims to report on the progress of the project and highlight the actions of HSF project volunteers through articles and testimonials published on the Monreseaudeau.fr media platform.
