Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 156 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: Oct 2013

Project Features


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Community Profile

Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...

Community Details:

When the Living Water Rwanda team arrived, 156 community members were dependent on an unprotected hand dug well, spring, and other various forms of surface water to sustain their most immediate water needs.  Because of this, families were suffering from diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses.  The community has access to pit latrines, a pit latrine with a slab, and a VIP latrine which will help prevent further spread of disease in this area.  During the team's stay, community members assembled a water committee and community health club who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided any materials they had available and guarded the team's equipment.  The local Protestant and Adventist churches will continue to cultivate community families after the team leaves the area.  The involvement and empowerement of the local church to continue sharing the love of Christ through safe drinking water creates a sustainable evangelical presence within the community.  There are 2 NGOs aside from Living Water Rwanda working in the area: SNV and Compassion International.  Both are working to assist the social economy, health, and education.

Training was conducted jointly with the community health workers.  The Living Water Rwanda team addressed oral hygiene and worms that were identified as major health challenges.  A Living Water Rwanda team member commented, "They were very grateful to the new water well and they believed it was an answer to the worms and parasites in the area."  Using the Living Water Traditional Method, the team addressed with 78 community residents (48 women and 30 men): Disease Transmission, Germs, Hand Washing - Proper Techniques and Water Saving Methods, Latrine Perception, Tippy Tap, Proper Care of Pump, and Keeping the Water Clean.  Pit latrines were constructed for single household use and during the team's stay.

The Living Water Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with twenty-three year old community member and farmer, Goreth Sibomata, who stated, "This new water source is a great addition to this community, and will greatly contribute to safe water availability.  The source is very near and the water is clean.  We grew up fetching from hand dug wells, the water being very brown and dirty.  They would step in it while fetching and this exposed it to contamination."

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Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


Contributors

Project Underwriter - Paul and Kathryn Eilers
Northern Chautauqua Clergy Association
Bingham Family
Goshen Community Church
Day 1 Corporation
Grove Public School
The Mangione Family
SoHi Youth
In honor of the Potter Family
JustGive
Asbury United Methodist Church, Inc.
Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church
Central United Methodist Church/Forum Sunday School Class
Compassionate Carers
MTRB Inc.
59 individual donor(s)