By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal 

The people that live in the village of Leboo in Kenya, Africa won’t have to walk for miles to get water anymore, thanks to a Christian non-profit ministry in Selma.

Integrity Worldwide recently funded a water well project that will provide the village with as much water as it needs.

“It’s just wonderful,” said Averee Hicks, co-founder of Integrity Worldwide. “They are so excited about this water. They have prayed and prayed for this water. They have been on our radar for a long time, and we just said now was the time to expand because their need was so great.”

Hicks said she and husband Alan drove by Leboo every time they went to Meto, another village that is served by Integrity Worldwide.

“We would always stop and talk to the people [in Leboo,]” Hicks said. “They wanted a water project, so we decided it was time to expand.”

Integrity already helped Meto, a village nearby, find a water supply, so the organization knew how important it was for Leboo to also have access to water.

Hicks said people in Leboo has been suffering from a drought since 2009, and the village hasn’t been able to recover. She feels like the new well will bring life to the African village.

“We can kind of see a vision that the well is going to be kind of the hub in this area,” Hicks said. “We believe it will really help stimulate their economy and maybe bring people there that can have a little business.”

The well was dug around two weeks ago on three acres of land that was donated to Integrity Worldwide from the village. The well, Hicks said, is about 700 feet deep and cost a little more than $50,000.

“We will own and operate [the well] until it becomes self-sustaining,” Hicks said.

Alan Hicks said the people in Leboo were ecstatic when the drilling company hit water.

“They were all jumping up and down with joy, so it is really satisfying,” Alan said. “We just feel blessed that we could do this. This is really life giving and life sustaining, and it changes lives.”

Pipes will also be laid to the school in Leboo to provide water to students.

Averee said she plans to travel to Leboo in April with Alan for the grand opening of the well, but it should be open and fully operating before then.