Giving Update: Bukhunyilu Community, Solomon Wangula Spring

Much has changed in Bukhunyilu Community since the protection of Solomon Wangula Spring last year.

Most noticeably, it is now easier for community members here to fetch water through the spring's discharge pipe, as opposed to the period before the project where they were using a container to scoop water from the ground. This means less time spent filling containers, and less time waiting in line for your turn to fetch water. Not only that, but no scooping has meant no worries about disturbing the water and muddying it before the next person could fetch it.

The sanitation and hygiene training has also been impactful. Before there were some community members who did not have toilets but through the support of the project, they are able to afford to cover the provided sanitation slabs. These households have been able to improve their health status and we are continuing to encourage other households to do the same.

Alvin Achesa, one of the assigned caretakers of the spring, echoed the changes we saw in Bukhunyilu.

"The community is able to access clean and safe drinking water. It is easier to fetch water because one does not need to use containers as the protected springs have pipes."

Sheila Wangula with Marion Shihenze at the spring

One community member, Sheila Wangula, is a 13-year-old girl who is related to the Wangula family who owns the land the spring is on. "The water collected at the spring is clean and safe for drinking and also has helped us in household chores including cooking," she said. "The community members no longer carry sieves and jugs when going to fetch water."

Sheila, Marion, and Field Officer Rose Serete