By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
Members of Lasani and Potede communities of Tal Ward in Ɓilliri Local Government Area have expressed deep appreciations to Hope Springs International (HSI) operating in Nigeria as Servants of Hope Initiative, for bringing to an end, their decades-long sufferings for water.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the two hand pump boreholes provided by the organization, members of the communities said for years of their existence, they have been depending on streams as water source.
An elder statesman in Lasani Nitte Dansalla, said “Live has come to us, as we least expect this at the moment. Contrary to politicians who have been promising us water and others without fulfilling, Hope Springs International never promised us anything, but see water today flowing in abundance for the first time in Lasani, we are grateful indeed”.
Speaking on behalf of Lasani youths, Mela Solomon, and Liyatu Ilu who spoke for the women, appreciated the NGO for coming to their salvation from water borne diseases that claim lives on yearly basis.
Similarly, an elder statesman in Potede who doubles as Chairman, Potede Community Development Association Maliki Adamu, said the borehole is the first ever project executed in the community in whatever capacity by any government or group.
James Tula and Rose Obeth who spoke on behalf of youths and women respectively, prayed for God Almighty to reward Hope Springs International and its officials.
“We ask God Almighty to reward your efforts for coming to our aid at this critical moment when we lost hope for water, but you revived and actualize our aged-long dreams”, they prayed.
In his address while handing the projects, the President Hope Springs International Lee Hodges, represented by the NGO’s Director Operations in Africa Barrister Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, said the organization is non political and its sole aim is to lift the unreached communities out of hardships through humanity driven projects.
He said “Hope Springs International focuses mainly on unreached communities lagging behind in basic social amenities like water, healthcare and the likes”.
The director charged members of the communities to take responsibility and ownership of the projects through proper supervision and maintenance.
“Don’t let this borehole stop on minor issues, put a strong committee in place to ensure it keep flowing, it’s meant for you, make good use of it”, he appealed.
Speaking further in the same direction, a member of the Tal communities Engineer Mela Lashiru, said “We will no longer believe nor patronize politicians who don’t keep to their words, who only remember us during campaigns. We did not beg for the projects, but these people see reason to lift us out of these hardships and decided to make us relevant. We appreciate them”.
Happiness can be widely seen on the faces of the two community members, as they jubilate and dance while singing songs of appreciation in their unique ways.