WorldWide Drilling Resource

32 FEBRUARY 2015 Defying the norm Adapted from an Article by Mary Herrick Appearing in World Vision Magazine ©2015 World Vision, Inc. All Rights Reserved When a village in Africa receives a well providing clean water, it’s often women and children, who have spent hours every day carrying water, who benefit the most. But it is usually men who design and build the water systems. In Mali, Lucie Bibata Dembele is breaking those norms. Lucie manages two of World Vision’s drill rigs, as well as teams of 12 men who run them. She is the only female drill rig manager for World Vision, not only in Mali, but in the entire West Africa region. “I think my role is important because women can see another woman who fights for them. That can give them courage in all their activities, whether domestic or financial. For that, I know my effort will not be in vain,” said Lucie. With a bachelor’s degree in geology, Lucie originally planned to go into mining. Instead, she chose to pursue drilling for water, because the reality of bringing clean water to those in need is more meaningful to her. In fact, this is the part of her job that inspires her the most. On average, it takes 2.7 days for one of World Vision’s rigs to reach a depth of about 197 feet, which provides an appropriate flow of water, resulting in a successful borehole and well. During the operation, drilling teams stay in communities where they’re working, often in basic conditions. Days are long, and travel from one site to another can be rough. It is a physically demanding job, and crews are often exposed to diseases which are endemic in rural areas. When she was interviewed for this article, Lucie was recovering from typhoid and malaria. Communities where Lucie works are often surprised to see a woman leading the drilling team, and she sometimes receives questions and criticism. “There are women who think my work is too hard to do, given the need to spend months away from family,” she says. “Others think it is not ‘woman’s work.’” Even with these challenges, Lucie says for her, one of the hardest parts of the job is when the rig doesn’t hit water. It’s a challenge to face the disappointed community and to move the rig to a new location. In these cases, World Vision’s hydrogeologist resurveys whether there are other locations nearby for drilling. Since becoming a drill rig manager with World Vision, Lucie has learned how to operate drill rigs and how to man- age a team of men. “It’s not complicated. I consider them my brothers. I respect them, and they respect me,” said Lucie. “There are people on the team who I can learn from; some with more than ten years of experience. If I don’t know something, I just ask. Everyone is here for the same purpose.” Lucie Bibata Dembele celebrates when a World Vision drill rig hits water in Mali. Photo courtesy of World Vision. +9 &8 ,&6"4/23 *,'*&,% "4&2 &,, /.6&.4*/.", ".% &6&23& *2$5,"4*/. 2*,, *0& 15*0-&.4 +9 &8 ,&6"4/23 2& 3&% /2,%7*%& ! 2&8 2&8-$'"%%&. $/- ,&6"4/23 /"% 4&34 $&24*'*$"4&3 "6"*,"#,& * $ "% * $ ( # * $ "% * " # % ! ! $% " ! ! # " ' $ # ) " ! ) " "# ) % # ) ! "# & )"6& &,&6"4/23 /' ",, 3*:&3 490&3 ".% 7&*()43 ".% $". #5*,% 4/ ".9 30&$*", "00,*$"4*/.3 ) ' & # ) $ ( "# ) $" % % !# ) " ## & " % # ) $# ) ' # &7 3&% 15*0-&.4 6"*,"#,& 777 2&8-$'"%%&. $/- WorldWide Drilling Resource ®