Nomads Pit Well Project

The project is for two shallow pit wells to benefit herder households whose way of life depends on raising livestock in the harsh Gobi Desert. These wells are traditional, hand dug up to 10 metres deep, each capable of serving 4 to 6 households and several thousand mixed livestock, including horses, camels, yak or cows, along with herds of sheep and goats The wells may be newly dug, or be the refurbishment of old wells that have fallen into disuse, or have poor water flow unable to meet demand. It's a common problem in this arid region with its harsh climate ranging from summer droughts and extreme winters, to fierce winds and dust storms. About a third of Mongolia is occupied by the Gobi Desert in the south, but animal husbandry has always been and still is, the main source of income for thousands of households in this harsh terrain. Grazing is sparse compared to northern provinces, so livestock needs moving more frequently between pastures to fatten up sufficiently to withstand the rigours of winter. It can range between -40C in a severe winter and +40C in a hot summer! When heavy snow locks grazing in an icy grip denying livestock access to pasture below, it leads to a widespread disaster phenomenon known as dzud, . The combination of malnourishment, starvation and cold exposure that follows often causes herd deaths in huge numbers, wreaking havoc on communities and livelihoods. Horses play an essential role in herders lives, not just for herd management, but also for getting around in remote terrain with no roads or transport. Going anywhere, whether to market, taking kids to school, or socialising, depends on their small but tough semi-wild horses. Children learn to ride at a young age, to later become highly skilled in horse management for herding work. These thirsty animals, and other livestock need regular watering, so the need for this vital resource is paramount.. By increasing the number of working wells, either by refurbishing any that are out-of-order or in poor condition, or otherwise by digging new wells, so better use is made of available pasture, with livestock having less distance to travel to access this precious resource. If the donation target for two wells is exceeded, yet more will be made available to herder families whose livelihoods depend so greatly on them. Thank you for reading, and for any donation you are kind enough to make towards this worthy project.