Buhar Community is made up of 9 small villages and approximately 5,000 residents living in clusters of mud houses with thatched roofs. There is no safe source of drinking water and the nearest market and health services are in the town of Akwanga, 15km to the north.

In the past, the road from Buhar was in poor condition and impassable by vehicle, particularly during the rainy season. As a result, the residents, most farmers, were extremely isolated. The only way to reach the nearest market was by foot making it difficult for farmers to sell the produce they had grown. Similarly, the sick had no choice but to walk to the hospital in Akwanga. When a storm blew the roof off the local school in Buhar, repairs were hindered because there was no way to convey building materials to the school site for repairs.

Rehabilitation of the 2.4km road began in December 2003, with PFD providing funding and technical support. The men and women of the community, demonstrating a sense of ownership in the project, worked together to quarry rocks, to mobilize additional funding, and to gather required materials.

Buhar Community is now accessible by motor vehicle and it is common to see residents stand outside their homes to flag down vehicles for a trip to Akwanga or even the larger towns further on. Health services are now more easily accessible when needed and farmers report receiving a higher price for their produce after harvest – they have more choice now about where and for how much to sell. Repairs to the local school are nearing completion. The Sheriki Buhar, or community elder, commented on the impact of the road on their health, incomes and general well-being when he said “PFD has lifted us out of the pit we were in.”