Community Leaders on the Mafi Zongo water project

Community Leaders

William

William is a fine example of a leader committed to a cause greater than himself, greater than his family, and greater than his own community. When the Mafi-Zongo Water Project started organising to bring water to the villages in the area, many were skeptical, but William immediately understood the potential of this project.

He is now leading the way in dozens of villages. He says, that speaking truth, whether good or bad, has always helped him and that's why the elders trust him to lead, in spite of his youth
 
 William talks about how the water project work has created more unity amongst the families of Adanu and has also led them to create closer ties and acquaintances with other villages in the area. 

Women of Kpokope village

Local women chipping stones under the shade of a tree

Kpokope village has played a key role in the Mafi-Zongo Water Project and this has been largely due to the women of Kpokope who led the way in constructing the concrete water tower - a testimony to what can be accomplished when communities come together and work for a common goal.  A group of 30 women climbed the mountain, broke off big chunks of rock and finding a bit of shade sat together hammering the rocks into stone chippings. Within a week we had enough for the massive concrete tower that now stores 100,000 litre of water.
 

Josephine

Josephine rings her bell to mobilise the community to come together and work

Rallying the women was Josephine Kudzu. When Josephine walks through the village ringing her bell, the women respond. Born in Kpokope, she is a grandmother and a hardworking farmer. The water project has been a great test for her as time and again the organizers turned to her for assistance. Whether building solidarity amongst the women or motivating them to help transport the water pipes, she always responds with a smile, leading by example.
 

Grace Eloh

Grace Eloh is another special women’s leader in Kpokope. With her quiet personality she perfectly compliments the boisterous Josephine.  As the village T.B.A. (Traditional Birth Attendant), she has delivered dozens of babies over the years.She founded and now runs the nursery school. Grace’s dream is to strengthen the women’s cooperative in Kpokope. She says that the women can do more for themselves, to become economically more independent, and the goal is to get a tractor and start a large collective farm. When asked what quality she thinks makes for a great leader of the women in Kpokope, she replies: “Patience - a leader must be patient, and always kind, never cruel, and she must be free with everyone.”