Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project changes Senegalese's lives

This photo taken on March 20, 2023 shows a general view of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng, 40, an employee of the Chinese construction company CGCOC Group Senegal Branch, has been responsible for maintaining a Chinese-aided well in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village. Checking the machine's functions and filling the engine with diesel, Dieng's work may seem simple and tedious, but means a lot to the locals.

Tenefoul Toucouleur Village was once a place afflicted with a severe lack of water. According to Dieng, residents there used to walk 1.5 kilometers every day and wait in long queues to fetch water from a 25-meter-deep well in a neighboring village. The well, part of the Chinese-funded rural well-drilling project in Senegal, has brought significant changes to local people's lives.

In Senegal, the rural well-drilling project officially began on March 5, 2017. The project covers 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal.

Mamadou Dieng walks in the area of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Nogaye yak, Mamadou Dieng's wife, cooks at home in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng is pictured inside the monitoring room of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A villager collects water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng (3rd R) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng opens the water supply valve of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng walks in the area of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng checks the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng (L) collects water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng fills the generator of a well project with diesel in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng checks the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

A villager carrying water is pictured on the way home in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Zizheng)

Mamadou Dieng (R) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng climbs up a water tower to check and clean the water storage tank in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

Mamadou Dieng cleans the generator set of a well project in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Zizheng)

Mamadou Dieng (1st L) helps villagers collect water in Tenefoul Toucouleur Village, Diourbel, Senegal, March 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)