Giving a well in a loved one's name: the gift that changes lives
- Giving a well in someone's name, whether they are alive or have passed away, is possible with Life ONG. The well bears their name and you receive photos, GPS coordinates and a keepsake booklet.
- In Islamic tradition, this is a Sadaqa Jariya: an ongoing charity whose reward continues for as long as the structure works. Contemporary scholars are unanimous on this point.
- The reward benefits the deceased as soon as the donor's intention is clearly established at the time of the gift.
- A well in Africa is funded for €2,650, which is about €901 after the 66% tax reduction. It serves around 500 people.
- If the amount is too high, the Water Sponsor programme allows you to contribute from €15 a month, or to join forces with others on the same project.
Some gestures say more than words. Giving a well in someone's name means turning a memory into water that flows, every day, for hundreds of people. Whether to honour a departed parent, celebrate a birth or mark a birthday, here is how it works in practice.
Why give a well rather than another gift?
A material gift wears out, gets put away, is forgotten. A well keeps working for years after the gesture. That is what makes it a tribute unlike any other.
When you give a well in someone's name, that name becomes tangible for an entire village. Women no longer walking for miles, children going back to school instead of fetching water, fewer people falling ill. Every day, without interruption.
It is a gesture that suits very different occasions: the memory of someone who has died, a parent's birthday, a birth, a wedding, or simply the wish to thank someone who matters. With Life ONG, the tribute is possible for loved ones who are alive as well as those who have passed away.
Access to water does not stop when the donor is gone. As long as the structure works and is maintained by the village committee trained during the construction, it keeps serving. That is why the well is often described as the gift that lasts the longest.
Sadaqa Jariya: what Islamic tradition says
For many donors, giving a well in a loved one's name relates to a precise notion: Sadaqa Jariya, ongoing charity.
The principle is easy to understand. Sadaqa Jariya covers all actions whose beneficial effects endure over time and lastingly benefit the community. It is not a gift that ends once it has been consumed: it is a gift that keeps producing good.
As Life ONG points out, contemporary Muslim scholars are unanimous: building a well is an exemplary Sadaqa Jariya. Building a well generates spiritual rewards for as long as the structure remains functional and benefits local populations.
An important point about intention: the reward for this charitable act benefits the deceased as soon as the donor's intention is clearly established. It is this intention, expressed at the time of the gift, that ties the act to the person being honoured.
The well is not the only form of Sadaqa Jariya. Planting a tree is another: beyond fighting deforestation, a tree provides food, wood and shade, and serves as a habitat for biodiversity. Life's Sapousse programme makes it possible to plant a tree for €2.
The 4 steps to give a well in someone's name
In practice, the process is simple. Here is how it unfolds at Life ONG.
1. You choose your project and the name. You give the name of the person you wish to honour, whether they are alive or have passed away, and you express your intention.
2. The team selects the village. Local teams identify the community where the need is most urgent, have a geologist carry out the soil survey, and start the works.
3. The well is built. The works follow the 7 steps of the specifications: survey, drilling, casing, pump, well head, laboratory drinking-water analysis, and training of the village management committee. Our article Building a well in Africa: steps, costs and real impact details each phase.
4. You receive the follow-up. As a Lifechanger, you are kept informed by the team at every stage of the project. At the end, you receive the GPS coordinates of the well, photos and a keepsake booklet. The process is transparent from start to finish.
How much does a well given as a tribute cost?
Funding a well is set at €2,650 in Africa and €2,300 in Asia, as part of a single solidarity-based price applied whatever the country. This amount covers the entire project, from the geological survey through to the management committee.
Thanks to the 66% tax reduction granted for donations to public-interest organisations, a well in Africa actually costs around €901. To understand the details of this budget, our article How much does a well in Africa cost? breaks down each item, and our complete guide to tax relief on donations explains the tax mechanism.
| Donation amount | Tax reduction (66%) | Real cost |
|---|---|---|
| Well in Africa: €2,650 | €1,749 | €901 |
| Well in Asia: €2,300 | €1,518 | €782 |
What if the amount is too high?
This is a common question, and there are two solutions.
The first is joining forces. Nothing prevents several people from funding a well together: as a family, among friends, among colleagues. It is even a common practice to honour the memory of a shared loved one, with each person contributing according to their means.
The second is Life ONG's Water Sponsor programme, which allows you to contribute to water access from €15 a month. As Life underlines, if you cannot afford to fund an entire well, ongoing giving is an equally important alternative: it lets you benefit from your Sadaqa Jariya and lastingly improve the daily lives of vulnerable families.
In both cases, the 66% tax reduction applies. A donation of €15 a month actually costs €5.10 a month. Life's donor relations team can support you in building a collective project or choosing the most suitable option.
A Life village well, dug to around 20 metres and fitted with a pump, brings water to about 500 people. To understand why this donation shows one of the best cost-to-impact ratios there is, our article Donating drinking water: the action with the best cost-to-impact ratio does the maths.
€2,650 in Africa, which is €901 after tax relief. The well bears the chosen name. GPS coordinates, photos and a keepsake booklet. From €15 a month with Water Sponsor.
Discover the process →Can you give a well in the name of someone who is still alive?
Yes. With Life ONG, the tribute is possible for loved ones who are alive as well as those who have passed away. It is a gesture that suits the memory of someone who has died just as much as a birthday, a birth, a wedding or simply a thank you.
What is Sadaqa Jariya?
It is ongoing charity: it covers all actions whose beneficial effects endure over time and lastingly benefit the community. Contemporary Muslim scholars are unanimous that building a well is an example of this, because it generates rewards for as long as the structure remains functional and benefits local populations.
Does the reward really benefit the deceased?
According to Islamic tradition as Life ONG describes it, the reward for this charitable act benefits the deceased as soon as the donor's intention is clearly established. It is the intention expressed at the time of the gift that ties the act to the person being honoured.
What does the donor receive once construction is complete?
As a Lifechanger, you are kept informed by the team at every stage of the project. On completion, you receive the GPS coordinates of the well, photos and a keepsake booklet. The process is transparent from start to finish.
What should I do if I cannot fund an entire well?
There are two options. You can join forces with others (family, friends, colleagues) to fund a complete well, which is common when honouring the memory of a shared loved one. Or you can join Life ONG's Water Sponsor programme, which allows you to contribute to water access from €15 a month, that is €5.10 after tax relief.
