Karangazi Community Well

Project Snapshot

Country: Rwanda

GPS Coordinates:
  Latitude -1.384517
  Longitude 30.482833

Impact:
  Total Served: 500

Status:  Completed (What's This?)

Completion Date (or estimate): 11/03/2011

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The people of Kigazi have been desperate for water. Their nearest source is 10 kilometers away from their community and is little more than a ground-water-fed mud puddle. The vice mayor of social affairs for Nyagatare district, Charlotte Musabyimana, asked LWI Rwanda if we could help. Upon visiting the community, the team decided it was immediately necessary. The Kigazi well has a water committee consisting of a church representative, the village chief, and a village layman. The water committee has opened a bank account which will be used to fund repairs in the future, ensuring the sustainability and financial ownership of the project. Living Water International has also enlisted this well in its operation and maintenance program which will make quarterly visits to the site to ensure the pump remains operable and to do follow up health and hygiene training with the community along with telling Bible stories, praying with the community, and strengthening ties with the local church. When the team arrived, community members were suffering from malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. Most community members sustain their families by raising livestock; mostly cattle. The nearest school is located five kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. During the team’s stay, community members assisted the team with the
water project whenever possible.

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with twenty-seven year old community member and farmer, Deo Biziyaremie, who stated, "We have been trekking to Akagera National Park, which is 10 kilometers away, to gather dirty water. Now we have a water source right here in our village! Thank you God!"

LWI Rwanda team member, Melchizedek Keoye, taught health and hygiene principles to 60 people in the village of Kigazi. During the hygiene education, the team addressed: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, proper water saving methods, causes of diarrhea, Oral Rehydration Solution, how to take proper care of the pump, how to keep the water clean, community mapping and identifying good and bad hygiene behavior, disease transmission stories, clean hands and clean hearts and dental hygiene.

Project Photos

Recent Project Updates

11/03/2011: Karangazi Well is Complete

A new well project has been completed for the community of Karangazi in Rwanda.  We have posted pictures, GPS coordinates and a report from our field implementer.