A Year Later: Buyonga Spring

A year ago, generous donors helped build a spring protection and sanitation platforms with the community near Buyonga Spring in Western Kenya. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partner, Erick Wagaka, with you.

The community who use Buyonga Spring have recorded a tremendous change ever since this spring was discovered for use, courtesy of the spring protection initiative. Because the community members took heed of what they got from the hygiene and sanitation training, the rates of diarrhea outbreak have reduced. Now they know what it takes to maintain WASH facilities unlike before this venture. Most of the household environments are also clean and one can walk freely without fear of stepping on unnecessary waste. They have also learned about safe garbage disposal, not just anywhere as they used to.

Judith Musera, Treasure of the Water User Committee, was happy to share her thoughts about the spring protection as well. “Since this spring was protected and some homes given sanitation stations, there has been a great improvement in terms of hygiene and sanitation in this community. The community elder keeps urging everyone to clean his/her environment. Because of the health message given during the training on environmental hygiene, the majority have applied them in their households. The sanitation platforms that were installed have also helped to cut down rampant open defecation cases. The spring protection has been a big blessing to us indeed. We now have clean water thus reduction in diarrhea cases in the area.”

As children, absenteeism in school because of diarrhea cases has greatly reduced,” says 11-year-old Sherline Awinja. “This is because we drink safe water from this spring. When we get home in the evening we don’t waste a lot of time in the spring waiting for others to fetch water. This time round we rush and get water fast then get enough time to do our homework. The spring area is clean and since almost all homes have latrines so that reduces the rate of open waste disposal. I would like to thank those that brought this project here,” she says.

We reached several spring users who were told to reach out to the rest on ways of maintaining this spring in order for it to survive over time. This information was also shared with the other spring users in neighboring communities that at times gets water from this very spring. We will continue to monitor this project and visit the community to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to 4 times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.