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The people of Sadu Bendu felt alone and neglected. Aid organizations and the Liberian government were helping in neighboring communities, but no one came to the impoverished village to see about their needs.

The problem was a matter of logistics. There wasn’t a road into Sadu Bendu, effectively cutting them off from the rest of the world.

Samaritan's Purse staff in Liberia became aware of the village, and an assessment team went in on foot. They discovered a critical need for clean, safe water.

We wanted to do something to help. The lack of a road was an obstacle, but there was a way around it—or rather, over it.

Our staff used a helicopter to airlift BioSand water filters into the community. Cargo nets attached to the helicopter carried the concrete filters and the sand and gravel needed to trap the harmful pollutants in the contaminated water supply.

The filters were assembled in the village. Local technicians were trained in care and maintenance, and the recipients received education in how to correctly use the filters so that they would provide clean drinking water and improved health.

Samaritan's Purse filter programs around the world are accompanied by health and hygiene education and training. Our staff noticed a lack of sanitation facilities in Sadu Bendu, and proposed a latrine building project.

Community members eagerly embraced the idea and agreed to do their part. While Samaritan’s Purse purchased the supplies for three community latrines, the villagers cleared a road and constructed a log bridge for our vehicles.

One month later, Sadu Bendu had clean water, improved sanitation facilities, and health education, as well as a new road so that vehicles can access the village.

“Samaritan’s Purse gave us the idea to do this thing, and then we did it,” a community leader said. “Now our children have toilets and clean water, and our community has a road.”