By Bill W. Cooper
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have successfully implemented a running water supply system for the residents of the Red Hill Community in Pipeline, Liberia.
Implemented by the Evangelical Rehabilitation Children Program (ECREP), the long-awaited project, by the two institutions has now transformed the lives of countless families who have struggled for years to access clean, reliable and safe water for their daily needs.
The Red Hill Community, located in the Pipeline area of Paynesville, has faced significant challenges over the years, and with a population of over 2,000 residents, many families have had to walk long distances to fetch water from nearby rivers and streams.
The challenging situation has often exposed them to unsafe conditions as a result of the dire/terrible situation, as the need for a sustainable and clean water supply could not be overemphasized.
For the residents of Red Hill, the struggle for water has been a daily reality, with many families relying on contaminated sources, leading to health issues and a constant battle against waterborne diseases.
The lack of a reliable water supply not only affected the resident’s health but also hindered their ability to thrive in other aspects of life, including education, business and economic opportunities.
During his overview of the project, CRS WASH Technical Advisor Theophilus Davis disclosed that in October 2021, CRS Liberia launched the Helping to Elevate the Lives of People in Small Cities (HELPS) project under its privately WASH-funded program to support the Liberian government in enhancing water services in urban and peri-urban areas.
He explained that over three years, CRS worked with the government, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), and the National WASH Commissioner to design and build three modern, low-cost, community-managed water supply systems.
According to Davies, the initiative, which has been implemented in three phases (Phase I was in Kakata, Margibi County, Phase II was in Newlife Community, Johnsonville township, and Phase III was in Red Hill Community), has successfully provided basic water services to over 14,500 people.
He maintained, “In 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints partnered with CRS to co-fund the project, bringing additional resources and support. This collaboration enhanced the project‘s capacity and coverage, extending its positive impact to other communities.”
“During this phase, CRS worked with its Local partner, ECREP, and constructed a mini stand-alone water supply system, reaching over 7,000 people with basic water services and 7 new jobs in Red Hill Community, Johnsonville,” Davies added.
CRS Country Representative Glynnis Cummings-John said, “We are so happy today to see this moment where this construction has been completed, and we’re handing over to the community and to the government to utilize this facility. We know the challenges.”
She emphasized, “We know the challenges that you have been facing, that you have been feeling over the years. We have been down to the water well where you have been fetching water, where you have been standing for hours waiting for the water to come up, where you have been sifting the water so that it becomes drinkable.”
“Yet still you have faced challenges with your health. Children have gone to school late and so we are so happy that this facility is going to make a dramatic change for this community. We are happy that we are handing over to you to take control of this facility that is going to benefit you, your children, your children’s children, and your children’s children if you maintain this facility.
We want to thank the support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The support that you provided has gone a long way to address the needs of this community. Words are really not enough for the support that you provided,” she admonished.
The CRS further expressed her gratitude to the government, and other collaborating partners in making sure that the project becomes a reality, adding, “I am really grateful and I’m so appreciative. So to the community, this is a landmark day and I really want to encourage you to make the most of this facility.”
Representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Daron Haddock said, “We have come here to Liberia and have partnered with our CRS friends to do this project. We are thankful for the CRS work and what they have done. We’re very impressed with the work that they have done.
“It is a wonderful project and we think that it will help others for many, many years. I want to introduce one of our church leaders. This is President Nyenforth. He is our area leader for this area of Liberia, in this particular area.
We welcome him here and we are happy to be here with him and representing the church with this humanitarian project. We hope that you will all remember this day and what a wonderful day it is and also remember our Father in Heaven, our God, who has given you this opportunity to have clean water,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the sunny afternoon, the Red Hill community residents celebrated the completion of the water supply system, with the young and old coming together to witness the moment they had long awaited, the first flow of clean water from their new taps.
As the first water flowed from the taps, cheers erupted from the crowd; children danced with joy, and families filled their containers with clean water for the first time in years as the water system marked a symbol of hope and a new beginning for the Red Hill community.
