Cameroon Well Update May 2026
St. John United Methodist Church is sponsoring the construction of seven wells in Cameroon in 2026 thanks to fundraising efforts and generous donations from our church community! These wells are being built in remote villages without access to clean drinking water. A village’s water is traditionally collected by hand from a creek or pond and carried great distances over challenging forest trails. The rates of water-related illness and death are very high in these villages due to contamination.
A local, faith-based, non-profit organization, “Daddy’s Friends,” is coordinating the construction of the wells in partnership with St. John UMC. The villages of Ngong Mintom, Bibindi, Biyeng, Memel, Log Kohe, Tchango and Ekomba Nnom Ayos were selected to receive wells due to their remote locations and lack of resources. These villages are in the southern rainforest region of Cameroon (highlighted in red below). Our church has sponsored the construction of 10 wells in partnership with Daddy’s Friends in previous years. The 2026 cost for each well is approximately $7,000.
The following videos show how water is typically collected from a spring or creek in the forest in southern Cameroon. The water source for the people of Ngong Mintom is 1.5 kilometers away from the village.
Narration: When a person comes here to gather water their sweat (germs) can fall into the water, and if this person is sick, it can contaminate the whole village. However, with a pump (as part of a well system), this can be prevented. A pump has a major role in this village.
Narration:
Person 1: Here is the man who has just gathered the water. He is returning to the village.
Person 2: I have to walk at least one and a half kilometers (more than a mile), with this on my head! We are in the bush, show them!
Person 1: We are in the deep forest and to get water in this area is not easy.
Narration: We are arriving back to the village, to the well project site. The man who is carrying the water on his head is in a big hurry now because the distance has been long and he is tired, so he is walking really fast!
How Wells Are Constructed
Community leaders organize a committee to educate and engage village residents in supporting the well project. Community members provide work crews with food and lodging, assist with some of the labor and contribute funds on a regular basis for the future maintenance needs of the well.
A site is chosen for the well in a public space (not private property) using pendulums and divining rods to locate the best place to dig for water. An experienced excavation team is brought to the village to hand dig the well. The well shaft averages between 15-25 meters deep (about 49-82 feet). Once water is found, the well is dug to an additional 2 meters below the water surface. This can be a very challenging task, as sometimes boulders are encountered and the shaft needs to be re-dug in a different location.
Narrator explains that the first well shaft constructed in Ngong Mintom was abandoned after hitting rocks (at 14 meters) and the crew was required to dig a new shaft.
Concrete rings are constructed on-site to line the sides of the well shaft and prevent it from caving in. This is a task that village residents can assist with. These rings are 0.5 meters high, so each well requires between 30 – 50 rings. After the bottom of the well is prepared with sand, gravel and charcoal to filter the water, the rings are lowered into the well one at a time and stacked upon each other. After this, a water pipe is installed, a cement cover is placed over the shaft, and the hand pump is mounted.
Construction of concrete rings:
Narration: Tonton (uncle) Choco in action! It’s magic - the pounding of the rings! Tonton Choco fully at work in Kribi.
Worker continues to prep the well shaft for the rings:
First cement ring is lowered into the well to line the shaft:
Progress So Far….
As of May 2026, two wells have been successfully constructed in the villages of Nkong Mintom and Bibindi!
Well #1: Nkong Mintom
William Etotogo is the community leader who requested the well. William had this to say at the start of the well construction (translated from traditional Bulu language):
Madame Nzameyo (addressing our project manager):
My name is Etotogo William. I do not have the words to thank you. I had given up hope of ever having access to clean water. It feels as though I am living a dream. Thank you so very much for what you have chosen to do for me and for all the inhabitants of this village.
Only the Lord God can truly reward you—all of you, and all your descendants.
For a long time, William had been without a wheelchair and mobilized himself on the ground after having polio as a child. While the well was being constructed, project organizers provided him with a wheelchair.
Video of William using his new wheelchair to go to Good Friday church services on his own:
First water flowing from Ngong Mintom’s new well!
Worker’s taste the first water:
“Thank you to Daddy’s Friends,” St. John UMC’s local project partners. The new well pump is behind.
Well #2: Bibindi
Bibindi’s well involved constructing a new well shaft for a previous well that had failed (not constructed by our project). This well uses a pump to carry water up to a water tower. Water then flows from the storage bin in the tower to a community water station with faucets.
Bibindi’s new well shaft and water tower
The following video includes a song and prayer to celebrate Bibindi’s new well led by its pastor:
Next Steps…
Construction of an additional five wells in 2026 is continuing. More updates to come!
Cameroon Project History
For more than 30 years, St. John UMC’s Cameroon Outreach project has helped to improve health and education for the people of Cameroon, while engaging our church and community members in cultural exchange and fellowship through volunteer work trips to Cameroon. St. John UMC support has included:
· construction of dormitories to provide safe housing for high school students;
· job apprenticeships and employment in tailoring, food production and information technology;
· agricultural and small animal husbandry projects;
· eyeglass distribution and support for people with disabilities;
· well construction.
These activities have been made possible by the fundraising efforts and donations of hundreds of St. John UMC members over the years, including support from the church’s annual Craft Fair and Garage Sale events. St. John UMC partners with “Daddy’s Friends Association” in Cameroon - a nonprofit, faith-based organization created to continue the philanthropic work of a local pastor.
If you would like to participate in St. John UMC’s Cameroon Outreach fundraising work or consider joining the next trip to Cameroon, please email Cathie Clements or call the church office to contact Cathie by phone.