December, 2020: Through Their Eyes: COVID-19 Chronicles with Simon Nzuili

This post is part of a new series by The Water Project meant to highlight the perspectives and experiences of the people we serve and how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting them. We invite you to read more of their stories here.

Our team recently visited Kithumba Community to conduct a COVID-19 prevention training (read more about it below!) and monitor their water point. Shortly after, we returned to check in on the community, offer a COVID-19 refresher training, and ask how the pandemic affects their lives.

Simon pumps as his wife collects water.

During this most recent visit, Simon Nzuili shared his story of how the coronavirus is impacting his life and his community.

Field Officer Lilian Kendi met Simon outside his home to conduct the interview. Both Lilian and Simon observed physical distancing and other precautions throughout the visit to ensure their health and safety. The following is Simon's story, in his own words.

What is one thing that has changed in your community since the completion of the water project?

A lot has changed since the installation of this water point. Now, we fetch water, nearer our homes than we did before. The water is fresh and clean. I have felt very confident drawing water from this well since its installation. There are fewer cases of diseases among community members. We have managed to plant vegetables for our household instead of purchasing at the market places because we now have plenty of water for use. At times we also sell the vegetables to the other community members, which is a good way to earn money.

Simon and his wife

How has having a clean water point helped you through the pandemic so far?

Having a clean water point has been very efficient during this pandemic as we have easily accessed water for washing hands, drinking, and cooking. This water point has made us feel very safe and secure amidst this period.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kenya, has fetching water changed for you because of restrictions, new rules, or your concerns about the virus?

Yes, fetching water changed for me as I had to abide by the following guidelines whenever I went to fetch water at the shallow well: -Wearing of masks -Washings of hands -Social distancing whenever I found other community members at the well.

How has COVID-19 impacted your family?

I have two children, one who worked in the hotel industry and the other is a nursing student; both have been affected since the outbreak of the disease due to the closure of schools and businesses. I have also had to stay home a lot due to the cessation of movement as I cannot move around to purchase supplementary food as freely as I used to.

What other challenges are you experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

There is still difficulty in movement till now due to fear of contracting the virus and the restrictions of continually wearing masks. The number of cases being reported is increasing, which makes one very paranoid and extremely cautious. We are still experiencing financial difficulties because the economy is still fluctuating.

What hygiene and sanitation steps have you and your community has taken to stop the spread of the virus?

We have been receiving TWP training, which has sensitized us how to live amongst ourselves, which we have been practicing. Among them are: *Wearing of masks at all times when we are out in public *Washing hands frequently *Practicing Social distancing.

Like most governments worldwide, the Kenyan government continues to set and adjust restrictions both nationally and regionally to help control the spread of the virus.

What restriction were you most excited to see lifted already?

Opening of schools and market places. At least we can conduct businesses and earn money compared to before (during lockdown) when we just stayed home.

What restriction are you still looking forward to being lifted?

I look forward to tourism getting back to normal as it will allow our children to get back to work fully. The hotel industry has been very low in its operations.

When asked where he receives information about COVID-19, Simon listed the radio, television, and our team's sensitization training.

What has been the most valuable part of the COVID-19 sensitization training you received from our team?

The most helpful part for me was the skills of making our own masks. We do not have to suffer from buying masks; they are also sold at very high costs. It is very efficient when we can make our own and also teach our children. I also enjoyed the handwashing training.

How has getting food been at this time?

I had enough food thanks to the previous rainy season. However, we still had challenges of buying food from the market places due to insufficient funds. We remain grateful because this water project has played a big role in helping us plant vegetables to boost our diets during this pandemic.

October, 2020: Through Their Eyes: COVID-19 Chronicles with Matthew Mulandi

This post is part of a new series by The Water Project meant to highlight the perspectives and experiences of the people we serve and how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting them. We invite you to read more of their stories here.

Matthew Mulandi and his family.

Our team recently visited Kithumba community to conduct a COVID-19 prevention training and monitor their well and dam. Shortly after, we returned to check in on the community, offer a COVID-19 refresher training, and ask how the pandemic affects their lives.

During this most recent visit, Matthew Mulandi shared his story of how the coronavirus is impacting her life and his community.

Field Officer Lilian Kendi met Matthew outside his home to conduct the interview. Both Lilian and Matthew observed physical distancing and other precautions throughout the visit to ensure their health and safety. The following is Matthew's story, in his own words.

What is one thing that has changed in your community since the completion of the water project?

"A lot has changed since the installation of this water point. We have plenty of water to plant trees and vegetables such as kales, spinach, onions, and tomatoes for domestic use at our homes and sale. Generally, farming projects have intensified thanks to this water project. Community members no longer have to walk for long distances to fetch water. This has enabled them to save more time to engage in other income-generating activities."

How has having a clean water point helped you through the pandemic so far?

"Having a clean water point has helped us provide water for drinking, bathing, washing clothes, and other household uses at our homes."

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kenya, has fetching water changed for you because of restrictions, new rules, or your concerns about the virus?

"Yes, a lot has changed for me since the outbreak of COVID-19. Following the restrictions provided by the government, I have had to practice handwashing before and after using the shallow well's hand pump, observe social distancing at the well to avoid contact, and wear a mask whenever I leave the house to go and fetch water."

How has COVID-19 impacted your family?

"The economy has become unstable since the onset of the virus. Casual labor jobs are not well paying as they were before, which has reduced the income earned at the household level. I had to send my wife and family to live with the extended family at my matrimonial home due to the changing times as I could not provide for them as consistently as I did before."

What other challenges are you experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

"Our income is unstable due to the lack of jobs. The economy is still rocky hence making it hard for us to engage in businesses as usual. My daughter was to join school this year, but that is not possible due to its closure."

Matthew watering his farm with water from the well.

What hygiene and sanitation steps have you and your community has taken to stop the spread of the virus?

"We took the following hygiene and sanitation steps to stop the virus: wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands with soap and clean water, and avoiding crowded places."

Like most governments worldwide, the Kenyan government continues to set and adjust restrictions both nationally and regionally to help control the spread of the virus.

What restriction were you most excited to see lifted already?

"There were age restrictions set when going to church, but they have been lifted, which has allowed all age groups to attend church. The elderly can now provide counsel to the young generation. The opening of the marketplace has allowed businesses to start picking up gradually."

Matthew Mulandi

What restriction are you still looking forward to being lifted?

"I look forward to the opening of schools so that my daughter can officially join pre-school."

When asked where he receives information about COVID-19, Matthew listed the radio and our team's sensitization training.

What has been the most valuable part of the COVID-19 sensitization training you received from our team?

"Through this sensitization training, I learned the importance of handwashing at all times, social distancing, and proper hygiene and sanitation."

May, 2020: COVID-19 Prevention Training Update at Kithumba Community

Our teams are working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us in our fight against the virus while maintaining access to clean, reliable water.

We are carrying out awareness and prevention trainings on the virus in every community we serve. Very often, our teams are the first (and only) to bring news and information of the virus to rural communities like Kithumba, Kenya.

We trained community members on the symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention of COVID-19.

Before there were any reported cases in the area, we worked with trusted community leaders and the Water User Committee to gather community members for the training. At the time, social distancing was a new concept and one that challenges cultural norms. Although community members were hesitant to adopt social distancing during the training, we sensitized them on its importance and effectiveness in combating the spread of the virus

We covered essential hygiene lessons:

- Demonstrations on how to build a simple handwashing station

- Proper handwashing technique

- The importance of using soap and clean water for handwashing

- Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including at the water point.

We covered COVID-19-specific guidance in line with national and international standards:

- Information on the symptoms and transmission routes of COVID-19

- What social distancing is and how to practice it

- How to cough into an elbow

- Alternative ways to greet people without handshakes, fist bumps, etc.

- How to make and properly wear a facemask.

During training, we installed a new handwashing station with soap near the community’s water point.

Due to the rampant spread of misinformation about COVID-19, we also dedicated time to a question and answer session to help debunk rumors about the disease and provide extra information where needed.

Water access, sanitation, and hygiene are at the crux of disease prevention. You can directly support our work on the frontlines of COVID-19 prevention in all of the communities we serve while maintaining their access to safe, clean, and reliable water.

October, 2019: Giving Update: Kithumba Community Hand-Dug Well

A year ago, your generous donation helped Kithumba Community in Kenya access clean water.

There’s an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Kithumba. Month after month, their giving supports ongoing sustainability programs that help this community maintain access to safe, reliable water. Read more…

February, 2019: Kithumba Community Hand-Dug Well Complete

Kithumba Community, Kenya now has a new water source thanks to your donation. A hand-dug well was constructed adjacent to a sand dam. Once it rains, the dam will build up sand that both stores and naturally filters water available at the hand-dug well. Community members also attended hygiene and sanitation training, and plan to share what they learned with their families and neighbors.

Hand-Dug Well

"This project is a big boost to the water challenges in our village," said Mrs. Kavinya.

"It will bring water close to our homesteads, thus reducing the distances covered in search of the valuable commodity. We are happy to have completed the project and for seeing the work of our hands yielding fruits in getting water. We will use the available water resources to improve on our agriculture and also cleanliness standards at the household levels."

The Process:

We delivered the experts and materials, but the community helped get an extraordinary amount of work done. They collected local materials to supplement the project, including sand, stones, and water.

We delivered the cement that was used to line the well and build the platform.

A seven feet in diameter hole is excavated up to a recommended depth of 25 feet. (Most hand-dug wells don’t reach that depth due to the existence of hard rocks between 10-18 ft.). The diameter then shrinks to five feet when construction of the hand-dug well lining is completed. This lining is made of brick and mortar with perforations to allow for water to seep through.

Progress on the well lining and platform

Once the construction of the lining is level with the top of the dam, a precast concrete slab is built on top and joined to the wall using mortar. Four bolts for the hand-pump are fixed on the slab during casting. The concrete needs to dry over the course of two weeks before the pump is installed.

The mechanics arrive to install the pump as community members watch, learning how to manage simple maintenance tasks for themselves.

The well is then given another few days after installing the pump to allow the joints to completely dry.

The pump was installed level with the top of the sand dam because as the dam matures, sand will amass until it reaches the top of the platform. Once it rains, this sand behind the dam wall will store the water to be accessed through this hand-dug well.

In fact, the sand dam has already stored water that’s currently being enjoyed by the community!

Training Review and New Knowledge

Matiliku region field officer Jeff Maluki mobilized community members to attend the training. All community members were invited and the date shared in time for the trainers to prepare. The weather ended up being cold and rainy. The homestead we met at luckily had a shelter that provided enough cover for the participants.

Participants asked us to review water treatment, latrine hygiene, handwashing, and soap-making.

We took them through various methods of treating drinking water. They were also taken through how water contamination can be prevented at each point in the water chain.

The participants also brought some materials so that we could review soap-making with them. They provided water, a big basin, and a stirring rod. We provided the soap-making ingredients - enough to make 60 liters of soap.

Mixing soap

Everyone was interested in learning the whole process and they were patient until the final product was obtained. The group took turns stirring the liquid soap. The participants pointed out that the soap is high quality compared to what is currently on the market, and that the whole process is simple and easy to follow.

"The training was good and I have learned a lot," said Mr. Muinde.

"I have learned about water treatment methods and this will help me to prevent waterborne diseases. The soap-making training will enable me to improve hygiene and sanitation at home since the soap is of good quality and affordable."

Thank you for making all of this possible!

January, 2019: Kithumba Community Hand-Dug Well Project Underway

Severe water shortage affects hundreds of people living in Kithumba Community, Kenya. Thanks to your generosity, we are bringing a water point to hundreds of people who walk miles for water.

Get to know this community through the narrative and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!