In Afghanistan, the Alstom Foundation has funded the drilling of three wells to provide potable water to the isolated villages of Aaqtchah, Sorkh and DichÂaraq in the northern province of Djozdjan, 500 km from Kabul.



The local populations lacked access to clean, potable water and were dependent on raw water from a nearby river distributed by the district every two or three weeks along brooks dug in the earth. This water would be collected in earth ponds within peoples homes to drink, cook, bathe and wash. Their only other option was to buy or barter with essential produce for water brought from remote villages. Without waste disposal schemes in the region, the accumulation of plastic bottles was also becoming problematic.



The project, conducted with the Association Renaissance Afghanistan, originally called for the drilling of two wells, but the Foundation built three. These new wells will provide:

• Clean drinking water free of charge
• Better health and hygiene to the villagers
• An end to plastic bottle pollution

Partner: Association Renaissance Afghanistan

Sponsor: Jalil Zafar is a Belfort-based Alstom employee who has taken his involvement with humanitarianism to a new level. This Afghan native is the President of the ARA, which he set up to help his homeland.