I am delighted to share my reflections on my recent visit to Guinea-Bissau, where WellFound’s work continues to transform lives. After a long journey from Sierra Leone, through The Gambia and Senegal, I arrived in this remarkable country to assess our impact and explore new opportunities for community development. What I found was a story of resilience, hope, and the power of collective action.

Warm regards,

Dr. Antony Kingsley

CEO, WellFound

Sustainable Progress in Our Established Communities‍

Visiting St. Vincente, the first village we supported in Guinea-Bissau back in 2016, was an uplifting experience. The well we installed remains fully functional, and the village continues to thrive. I was particularly touched by a family-run vegetable shop—a small but powerful symbol of self-sufficiency.

The well in St Vincente, cared for and maintained by the community since 2016

One of the most encouraging aspects of my visit was seeing how deeply communities have embraced WellFound’s philosophy of self-sufficiency.

In Cabame, I witnessed a true model of sustainability. The community has not only maintained their water supply but also expanded their vegetable gardens, demonstrating the long-term impact of our intervention. Nearby in Pete Calobo and Pete Ninkida, the market gardens are flourishing, and women and children appear visibly healthier. It was inspiring to see their self-reliance in action—when a rice-grinding machine broke down in Pete Ninkida, the community promptly took the initiative to repair it.

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In Cali, also one of our earliest sites dating to 2017, the market garden was thriving. However, I was saddened to see that the school, which the community had built themselves, had collapsed due to heavy winds. They were determined to rebuild it. Encouragingly, they were also drilling a new well independently due to increasing demand—a true testament to community initiative. The women proudly showed me their beetroot harvest, grown from seeds we had recommended last year.

Then, I went to see villages that we work in partnership with Plan International, which is about 6 hours away from the capital. In Ierobacunda, the market garden is also thriving. Speaking with the chairlady, Mariamma, she beamed with pride, recounting how the project had transformed their village. The women could now afford schoolbooks for their children, and there was no longer a need to travel to the Senegalese border for fresh vegetables. The younger children echoed this sentiment, joyfully explaining how vegetables had become a regular part of their diet—a significant step forward in nutrition and self-sufficiency. 

Similarly, in Sintcham Mundjure, villagers have already started saving funds to repair an old well, and their organic farming methods are proving highly effective. Their sense of ownership over their own progress is a driving force behind the sustainability of our projects. The village head expressed heartfelt gratitude for the dedication shown to their often-overlooked community.

In Iero Djadja, a thriving community-led savings scheme is helping households contribute towards purchasing an overhead tank, ensuring a long-term water solution. 

And in Sintcham Suncar, Mr. Uaua Balde, an elder, reflected on how their young boys and girls used to travel to Senegal for work—ironically, watering fields in another country. Now, they could cultivate their own land and prosper, a testament to WellFound’s impact on local economies.

At Sintcham Imabe, the market garden was in its early stages, with plantation efforts underway. The women expressed their joy in working together, highlighting how communal efforts provided strength and hope. Previously, they had worked in isolation, which was both exhausting and discouraging. Now, a newfound sense of unity fuelled their ambitions.

In Bangacia, the women shared their past struggles over scarce water resources, now replaced by a sense of abundance and cooperation. A young man meticulously recorded all incoming funds, a clear indication of accountability and purpose. The sense of unity was so strong that they invited us to join their communal dinner. Their vision, dreams, and commitment were palpable.
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The Need for Action in New Villages

While many villages are thriving, others still struggle with access to clean water. In Buio, I found women and children collecting unsafe water from an old hand-dug well, a stark reminder of why our work remains crucial. The village chief shared a heartbreaking story of past promises from other organizations that were never fulfilled. Similarly, in Quinquennial, a tragedy had left the village in a very sad situation. A young girl had fallen into an old, unprotected, hand-dug well and lost her life. The community had since covered and abandoned the well, forcing them to walk 1.5 miles to fetch water.

The old well in Quinquennial, now sealed off

In Pinhas, the village’s only open well dries up in the summer, making daily life extremely difficult. And in Pintcantcha, villagers must trek through the jungle to access a shared water source. Despite these challenges, hope remains. Many of these communities have suitable land for market gardens, and we are assessing how best to provide long-term water solutions.

Strengthening Our Impact

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Collaboration is key to expanding our impact, and I was pleased to engage in productive discussions with several partners during my visit.

Our partnership with Plan International continues to thrive, as we submitted our year-end project report and proposal for future work. A joint visit to project sites reinforced our shared commitment to sustainable development. Similarly, our collaboration with UNDP is progressing well, with two out of three planned wells completed. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also expressed great interest in partnering with us, with discussions underway for senior-level collaboration.

SwissAid, another valued partner, relies heavily on WellFound’s expertise in water and sanitation. We have submitted a proposal to complete work on three villages, which, if approved, will bring clean water to hundreds more people. 

By strengthening these partnerships, we are ensuring long-term sustainability and increasing the reach of WellFound’s life-changing projects.

Looking Ahead

The progress we have made in Guinea-Bissau is remarkable, but there is still much work to do. WellFound’s presence remains vital in this country, one of the poorest in the world. As I reflect on my journey, I am encouraged by the resilience of the people and their determination to take charge of their futures.

Your support continues to be the driving force behind these life-changing projects. Every well installed, every garden cultivated, and every child with access to clean water is a testament to the generosity of WellFound’s supporters. Thank you for standing with us as we bring hope and transformation to communities in need.

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