Water Responsibility: Teaching and Learning

A visit to Telly: water, responsibility and learning together.

From 12 to 15 February 2026, Souleymane Guindo, coordinator for the Blue Community Réseau Ecole RadioChico RERC in Mali and coordinator for the Blue Communities in  french-speaking Africa, returned to his home village of Telly in Mali’s Dogon region. He wanted to see for himself what had happened since the well was completed in December, and to find out what progress the children had made.

During his stay, he met with the village community and spent time at the well and on the cultivated land. The aim was to observe how the new water supply was being used, and how awareness of careful water usage was developing.

At the school in Telly, Souleymane gave a talk to 10- and 11-year-old children about water and their responsibility to protect this vital resource. Together, they discussed why clean water cannot be taken for granted and how everyday habits can help protect it.

At the well, he spoke to women and children about hygiene and maintaining water quality. He explained that clothes and bodies should not be washed directly at the borehole to keep the water clean. The children pointed out that staying clean is just as important. Together, they came up with a simple, practical solution: water could be poured into a basin and used to wash a few metres away from the well.

Souleymane also reminded the children that special care is needed around the well. Keeping the well clean protects water quality and thus everyone’s health.

During his visit, he noticed that issues such as hunger and frequent stomach aches, which had previously been repeatedly raised, were hardly mentioned anymore. This demonstrates the positive influence that access to clean water can have on health and everyday life.

This visit highlights that access to water is a crucial first step. Equally important are learning together and taking responsibility for how this resource is used. The developments in Telly demonstrate how sustainable water management can be achieved through exchange, awareness, and participation.