Offering a well in a deceased person's name: how it actually works

Losing a loved one leaves a gap that is hard to fill. Many look for a way to honor their memory through a useful deed rather than a simple memento. Having a well built in the deceased's name answers that wish: it is a concrete benefit, serving real people every day, tied to the name of the one you want to honor.

In tradition, a good deed can benefit a deceased person when it is performed in their name. The well, which provides drinking water for years, falls within the scope of sadaqa jariya: its benefit renews itself as long as it works. Offering a well in the name of a parent, a grandparent or a departed friend means ensuring that good keeps being done, on their behalf.

• You choose the country among our six areas of operation, based on your budget and desired timeline.
• You indicate the name that will appear on the well's plaque, that of the deceased, or you opt for anonymity.
• Goutte d'Espoir handles village scouting, permits, drilling, the concrete slab and channels, the installation of the hand pump and commissioning.
• At delivery, you receive the full documentation: photos and videos of the completed site.

Each well can carry a plaque with the name you choose. For a deceased person, it is most often their name, sometimes with a short mention. If you prefer discretion, the plaque can remain anonymous. In all cases, it is the villagers who will use the water point every day.

Transparency is at the heart of our work. At the end of the project, you receive photos and videos of the completed well, including the plaque with the chosen name. You can see precisely what was built and where. This is not an abstract promise but a result you can verify.

Contributions can be pooled as a collective fund. Several members of the same family can combine their payments to fund a well together in a loved one's name. It is often a collective effort, gathering people around a shared memory.

The choice depends mainly on your budget and the timeline. Uganda is the country where we build the most, with a well at 350 euros and a timeline of 3 to 5 weeks. Then come India at 365 euros, Sri Lanka at 370 euros and Cambodia at 400 euros, with a timeline of 4 to 6 months. For Niger, expect 1050 euros, and for Togo 1100 euros, also in 4 to 6 months.

If you wish to honor a loved one's memory through a lasting benefit, you can choose a country and order a well in their name. You will follow its progress through to commissioning, and you will receive images of the result.