A Year Later: Fungua Macho-Chongolima Community

A year ago, generous donors helped install a well with Fungua Macho-Chongolima Community in Uganda. 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 partners, Peter Osire and Geoffrey Kusemererwa with you.

Fungua Macho-Chongolima Village became Open Defecation Free (ODF) with 100% latrine coverage on December 7, 2016.

A latrine with a hand-washing station outside.

Peter notes that since the water point is so close to the community members, members can spend their time on other important activities instead of just fetching water. Men opt to go to the trading center to repair bicycles for money, attend to their trade shops, among other activities. The children do not have to rush back home from school because they can easily access the water point at any time. School attendance itself has improved since these children began drinking clean water.

Peter also said that a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) was introduced to this community to improve maintenance of the well. It has helped pay for these repairs as well as improved the livelihoods through easy access to small loans. These loans help them solve their day to day problems like purchasing seeds for their farms. It has also helped community members avoid the high interest rates charged by micro-finance institutions and eliminates the possible confiscation of property in case of failure to repay the loan on time.
Through the VSLA, 716,800 shillings has been saved for water point maintenance while 2,192,000 shillings has been accumulated as members' personal savings.

Geoffrey Odaga

Peter met with Geoffrey Odaga at the well to talk about some of this. He says "there are reduced cases of diseases like diarrhea. Almost 70% of the children in the village used to have swollen stomachs. This was attributed to the open water source from which they were drawing drinking water. Since the introduction of this clean water point, this scenario has not been as evident among our children."

Marcus Opio

11-year-old Marcus Opio came by the well to fetch clean water while we were there. "These days we drink clean water with no germs unlike before, when we used to drink contaminated water from an open water source. This water would even lead to skin diseases," he said.

Peter left these interviews feeling encouraged about how well the community is taking care of both themselves and their water point.

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.