Restoring wells in Sumy region: how student volunteers and locals revived essential water sources

The war has caused extensive destruction across Ukraine, and the Popivska community in the Sumy region was no exception. In 2022, during active hostilities, Russian military forces and equipment moved through nearly the entire territory of the community, causing widespread damage, destroying citizens' property, and damaging infrastructure. Wells, which serve as vital water sources during emergencies, were also damaged.

Student volunteers stepped in to assist the villagers. Through a project organized by the NGO "Building Ukraine Together," ("BUT") in partnership with the Razom for Ukraine charitable foundation and the Popivska Village Council, they restored the functionality of five mine wells in three villages of the Popivska community within just a few days.

Saving wells

The issue of wells in villages is not new. Each year, their numbers dwindle as groundwater levels drop, and insufficient maintenance accelerates their decline.

The full-scale war has only underscored their importance: wells are indispensable in villages, as relying solely on centralized water supply is risky when the enemy deliberately targets infrastructure. In emergencies, wells can serve as a crucial backup, helping community residents survive.

Tetiana Mishchenko, head of the Housing and Communal Services, Architecture, Construction, Transport, and Communal Property Department of the Popivska Village Council, notes that the vast majority of wells in the 44 settlements of the community comply with legal standards. However, some still require additional care. These include wells damaged or destroyed by Russian military equipment, as well as those "worn by time." Yet, with proper restoration, they can once again serve not only as an alternative water source for locals but also as critical supply points during evacuations from the border area.

"Ensuring a sustainable water supply is one of our top priorities. However, the community's financial resources are not sufficient to restore all damaged facilities and build new ones at the same time," says Mishchenko.

In light of this, the community works closely with organizations and partners, as collaborative efforts enable them to accomplish far more than they could alone.

The Popivska community first learned about BUT's efforts to restore war-damaged facilities in 2023. They submitted an application to collaborate on the restoration of two additional wells in the village of Sarnavshchyna. Mishchenko recalls that, unfortunately, their application was not selected at the time. However, this did not mean the wells were abandoned. That same year, the community identified other resources and restored the wells independently. 

The next priority was restoring wells in the villages of Raki, Ozarychi, and Zholdaki. These wells supply water to nearly 1,000 residents, as well as to local shops, a cultural center, and other key facilities.

"BUT reopened the selection process, and without losing hope, we submitted these wells for consideration," says Mishchenko.

After learning about the community's efforts and challenges, "BUT" representatives, in partnership with the RAZOM Foundation, stepped in to support the project. A defining aspect of the initiative was the involvement of student volunteers in its implementation.

For water and about water

Eighteen volunteers, primarily students, participated in the well restoration efforts. Their work involved dismantling old wells and constructing new ones in their place. Notably, the well components used in the project were also created collaboratively with young people, produced at the Konotop Vocational Agrarian Lyceum.

In just five days, the young volunteers restored five wells across three villages:

• Village of Ozarychi: Two wells, including one that serves as the sole drinking water source for a third of the village's residents.
• Village of Raky: A well that had been damaged by time and damaged by the Russians.
• Village of Zholdaky: Two wells, both of which had suffered damage caused by the Russia forces.

In addition, the BUTchyk—the name for local volunteer actions of mutual aid and support within BUT—featured a second component: an educational event organized by the Center for Culture, Leisure, and Sports of the Popivska Village Council. Participants enjoyed a small performance and quiz, learned about water, its properties and importance, and even conducted mini-experiments to explore water's characteristics.

"It is important for us to help create facilities that will improve life in the community, but it is even more crucial to involve local youth in this process and show them how they can positively influence community life through simple actions," comments Sofiia Ostrozka, PR manager of BUT.

Overall, the work proceeded as planned, but a pleasant, albeit somewhat unexpected, development occurred: the scope of the work for one well increased. When the equipment and volunteers arrived in the village of Raky with the materials for replacing the well, the locals hesitated and decided to keep the existing one. However, the local women requested paint so they could refresh and update their beloved well themselves.

The preparation work for the well in the village of Raky turned out to be useful, as it was moved to the next location in the village of Zholdaky. There, the residents revealed that another well needed restoration—one that had been unused for several years due to its neglected state. The asphalt path leading to it was nearly overgrown, and the well itself had begun to sprout maple shoots. However, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the locals, the village headman, and volunteers, everything changed in just one day: the shoots were cleared, the old well was dismantled, and a new one was installed.

According to Mishchenko, in all the villages, locals also played an active role in the reconstruction and restoration of drinking water sources—some joined the work directly, while others showed their appreciation by treating the volunteers to delicacies.

For example, in the village of Ozarychi, the first local resident to join the restoration effort was an internally displaced person (IDP) who had returned to his ancestral homeland due to the war. The man shared memories of his childhood, when this well was the only source of drinking water for his and neighboring homes. He expressed how heartwarming it was to know that the path to his childhood well would no longer be overgrown.

In the village of Zholdaky, a local woman initially doubted that the well, which her parents had built with their neighbors, could ever be restored. She recalled that the water from the well was exceptionally tasty, but the fact that the occupiers had used it made her hesitant to drink from it again. When, thanks to the efforts of Ukrainian youth, the well was brought back to life, the woman's joy was immeasurable.

Oksana Danylova, the mentor for the Popivska community during the implementation of the BUTchyk, recalls that when the new wells were being installed, local residents even speculated that the President of Ukraine himself might be coming to visit, as they couldn't believe such a transformation could happen so effortlessly.

"People living in these villages understood that they were being cared for and supported," says Danylova.

As Mishchenko mentioned, the Popivska community is determined to continue its efforts and aims to restore all the wells across the community. Currently, local authorities are seeking support from businesses to help achieve this goal. Meanwhile, inspired by the students' work, the community residents have come together and renovated two bus stops.

"Change starts with you, and through small actions, everyone can make a significant difference. Organizing local volunteer initiatives allows you to develop skills and competencies, identify and support local leaders, and ultimately scale the impact. Many large projects began with small initiative groups, including BUT. Therefore, we should not think that change depends only on large institutions; local initiatives have tremendous power," comments BUT project manager Olena Lupova.

She adds that this year, BUT celebrates its tenth anniversary, which is a testament to the effectiveness of its methodology and the demand for it. The community is growing each year, and becoming part of the BUT network is simple—whether by joining as a volunteer or becoming a co-organizer of BUTchyk, BUT camp, and other initiatives. More information can be found on the organization's public page.